Abstract:

A PDP (101) with a reduced discharge inception voltage and discharge
sustaining voltage for improving luminous efficiency has at least a pair
of substrates (110 and 111) that are disposed in opposition to sandwich a
discharge space therebetween. At least a portion of at least one of the
substrates has two or more display electrode pairs (104) that include
narrow bus electrodes (159 and 169), a dielectric layer (107) formed so
as to cover the display electrode pairs (104), and a protective layer
(108) formed so as to cover the dielectric layer (107). The dielectric
layer (107) has a dense film structure with a dielectric breakdown
voltage of 1.0×106 [V/cm] to 1.0×107 [V/cm].

Claims:

1. A plasma display panel including a pair of substrates that are disposed
in opposition to sandwich a discharge space therebetween, each of the
substrates having a plurality of band-shaped electrodes extending on a
main surface thereof facing the discharge space, and each of the
substrates having a dielectric layer laminated on the main surface
thereof so as to cover the plurality of electrodes, whereinthe dielectric
layer of at least one of the substrates has a dielectric breakdown
voltage of 1.0.times.106 [V/cm] to 1.0.times.107 [V/cm] inclusive.

2. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinthe at least one dielectric
layer includes Si atoms and O atoms, and has been formed by a chemical
vapor deposition method.

4. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinthe at least one dielectric
layer has a relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. in a range of 2
to 5 inclusive.

5. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinthe at least one dielectric
layer has a film thickness d in a range of 1 [μm] to 10 [μm]
inclusive.

6. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereina ratio (.di-elect cons./d)
between a relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. and a film
thickness d of the at least one dielectric layer is in a range of 0.1 to
0.3 inclusive.

7. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinon one of the substrates,
the plurality of electrodes extending thereon form a plurality of pairs,a
plurality of discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the
pairs of electrodes extend,the pairs of electrodes are each composed of a
first electrode and a second electrode, andin each of the pairs of
electrodes, each of the first and second electrodes includes a
band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base
toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the pair, at least
two of the protrusions of the first electrode and of the second electrode
existing in each cell.

8. The plasma display panel of claim 7, whereinin each of the discharge
cells, the protrusions of the first electrode and the second electrode
are arranged so as to oppose each other, andany two opposing protrusions
protrude an equal distance, and adjacent protrusions protrude an equal
distance.

9. The plasma display panel of claim 7, whereinthe plurality of
protrusions exist in three or more groups in each of the discharge cells,
each group including one of the protrusions of the first electrode and an
opposing one of the protrusions of the second electrode, andamong the
three or more groups, a group of protrusions positioned in a central
portion of the discharge cell protrudes a smallest distance, and
remaining groups protrude an increasing distance in accordance with
increasing distance from the central portion of the discharge cell.

10. The plasma display panel of claim 7, whereinthe plurality of
protrusions exist in three or more groups in each of the discharge cells,
each group including one of the protrusions of the first electrode and an
opposing one of the protrusions of the second electrode, andamong the
three or more groups, a group of protrusions positioned in a central
portion of the discharge cell protrudes a greatest distance, and
remaining groups protrude a decreasing distance in accordance with
increasing distance from the central portion of the discharge cell.

11. The plasma display panel of claim 7, whereinin each of the discharge
cells, the protrusions of the first and second electrodes are interposed
with each other in comb-teeth configuration with a uniform gap between
opposing ones of the protrusions.

12. The plasma display panel of claim 7, whereinany given protrusion end
portion facing the protrusion of an opposing one of the electrodes is
formed such that a contour of the protrusion end portion at a surface
parallel to a main surface of the respective band-shaped base is
polygonal or curved in shape.

13. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinon one of the substrates,
the plurality of electrodes extending thereon form a plurality of pairs,a
plurality of discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the
pairs of electrodes extend,the pairs of electrodes are each composed of a
first electrode and a second electrode,each of the first and second
electrodes includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions
protruding from the base toward the base of the other one of the
electrodes in the pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first
electrode and of the second electrode existing in each cell,in at least
one of the electrodes, any two adjacent protrusions of the electrode
protrude an equal distance from the base and form a pair,an end portion
of each protrusion in the pair is formed such that a contour at a surface
parallel to a main surface of the base is polygonal or curved in shape,
andthe end portions of the protrusions in the pair are inclined with
respect to a width direction of the respective band-shaped base such that
a point of intersection of center lines of the protrusions in the pair is
further away from the electrode than the protrusion end portions.

14. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinon one of the substrates,
the plurality of electrodes extending thereon form a plurality of pairs,a
plurality of discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the
pairs of electrodes extend,the pairs of electrodes are each composed of a
first electrode and a second electrode,each of the first and second
electrodes includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions
protruding from the base toward the base of the other one of the
electrodes in the pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first
electrode and of the second electrode existing in each cell,in at least
one of the electrodes, any two adjacent protrusions of the electrode
protrude an equal distance from the base and form a pair,an end portion
of each protrusion in the pair is formed such that a contour at a surface
parallel to a main surface of the base is polygonal or curved in shape,
anda gap between the protrusions constituting each of the pairs of
protrusions is narrower on a protrusion end side than on a base side.

15. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinon one of the substrates,
the plurality of electrodes extending thereon form a plurality of pairs,a
plurality of discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the
pairs of electrodes extend,the pairs of electrodes are each composed of a
first electrode and a second electrode,each of the first and second
electrodes includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions
protruding from the base toward the base of the other one of the
electrodes in the pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first
electrode and of the second electrode existing in each cell,in at least
one of the electrodes, any two adjacent protrusions of the electrode
protrude an equal distance from the base and form a pair, andend portions
of the protrusions constituting the pair are formed such that a contour
at a surface parallel to a main surface of the base is polygonal or
curved in shape, and are curved toward each other.

16. The plasma display panel of claim 13, whereinthe end portions of the
protrusions constituting two opposing pairs of protrusions of the first
and second electrodes are arranged such that, when the end portions are
assumed to define vertices of an enclosed area, the enclosed area is a
square.

17. The plasma display panel of claim 7, whereineach of the bases is
composed of a band-shaped transparent electrode and a bus electrode
arranged on a main surface of the transparent electrode facing the
discharge space, andeach of the bus electrodes includes aluminum and
neodymium as main components, and has been formed in a vacuum or at a
reduced pressure.

18. The plasma display panel of claim 17, whereinthe plurality of
protrusions extend from the bus electrodes and are formed from a same
type of material as the bus electrodes.

19. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinon one of the substrates,
the plurality of electrodes extending thereon form a plurality of pairs,a
plurality of discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the
pairs of electrodes extend,the pairs of electrodes are each composed of a
first electrode and a second electrode,each of the first and second
electrodes includes a band-shaped base and a protrusion protruding from
the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair,each of the bases is composed of a bus electrode and a transparent
electrode,ends of the protrusions of the first and second electrodes are
formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to the main surface of
the base is an acute-angular shape, andthe protrusions of the first and
second electrodes extend from the bus electrodes, and are formed from a
same type of material as the bus electrodes.

20. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinthe at least one
dielectric layer has a protective film laminated on a main surface
thereof facing the discharge space, andthe protective film includes MgO
as a main component, was laminated on the main surface of the respective
dielectric layer on the discharge space side in a vacuum or at a reduced
pressure, and was stored in the vacuum or at the reduced pressure until
the pair of substrates were joined together.

21. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinthe at least one substrate
has a thickness t in a range of 0.5 [mm] to 1.1 [mm] inclusive.

22. The plasma display panel of claim 1, whereinthe at least one substrate
is composed of a plastic material.

23. A manufacturing method for a plasma display panel, comprising the
steps of:laminating a dielectric layer on a main surface of a substrate;
andtransporting or storing the substrate on which the dielectric layer
has been laminated, whereina reduced pressure state is maintained from
the dielectric layer lamination step until the dielectric layer-laminated
substrate transportation/storage step.

24. A manufacturing method for a plasma display panel, comprising the
steps of:laminating a dielectric layer on a substrate main
surface;laminating a protective film on a main surface of the dielectric
layer; andtransporting or storing the substrate on which the protective
film has been laminated, whereina reduced pressure state is maintained
from the protective film lamination step until the protective
film-laminated substrate transportation/storage step.

25. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 23,
whereinthe substrate is a front substrate.

26. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 23,
further comprising the step of:forming a display electrode on the main
surface of the substrate, whereinthe display electrode formation step is
performed before the dielectric layer lamination step, and includes the
substeps offorming a band-shaped transparent electrode; andforming a
band-shaped bus electrode on a main surface of the transparent electrode,
andin the bus electrode formation substep, the bus electrode is formed
using a material including aluminum and neodymium as main components and
by a vacuum film-formation method.

27. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 24,
whereinin the protective film lamination step, the protective film is
laminated using a material including Mg atoms and O atoms as main
components and by a vacuum film-formation method.

28. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 23,
whereinthe substrate is a back substrate,the manufacturing method further
comprises the steps of:before the dielectric layer lamination
step,forming a data electrode on the main surface of the back
substrate;after transportation in the dielectric layer-laminated
substrate transportation/storage step,providing barrier ribs so as to be
upright on a main surface of the dielectric layer; andforming a phosphor
layer on side surfaces of the barrier ribs and on the main surface of the
dielectric layer, andthe reduced pressure state is maintained from the
dielectric layer lamination step until the phosphor layer formation step.

29. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 28,
whereinin the data electrode formation step, the data electrode is formed
using a material including aluminum and neodymium as main components and
by a vacuum film-formation method.

30. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 23,
whereinthe steps are performed in an atmosphere at room temperature to
300.degree. C. inclusive.

33. A plasma display panel including a substrate whose main surface is
provided with a display electrode pair composed of a first electrode and
a second electrode, and having a structure in which a plurality of
discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the display
electrode pair extends, whereineach of the first and second electrodes
includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions protruding
from the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first electrode and of the
second electrode existing in each cell.

34. The plasma display panel of claim 33, whereinin each of the discharge
cells, the protrusions of the first electrode and the second electrode
are arranged so as to oppose each other, andany two opposing protrusions
protrude an equal distance, and adjacent protrusions protrude an equal
distance.

35. The plasma display panel of claim 33, whereinthe plurality of
protrusions exist in three or more groups in each of the discharge cells,
each group including one of the protrusions of the first electrode and an
opposing one of the protrusions of the second electrode, andamong the
three or more groups, a group of protrusions positioned in a central
portion of the discharge cell protrudes a smallest distance, and
remaining groups protrude an increasing distance in accordance with
increasing distance from the central portion of the discharge cell.

36. The plasma display panel of claim 33, whereinthe plurality of
protrusions exist in three or more groups in each of the discharge cells,
each group including one of the protrusions of the first electrode and an
opposing one of the protrusions of the second electrode, andamong the
three or more groups, a group of protrusions positioned in a central
portion of the discharge cell protrudes a greatest distance, and
remaining groups protrude a decreasing distance in accordance with
increasing distance from the central portion of the discharge cell.

37. The plasma display panel of claim 33, whereinin each of the discharge
cells, the protrusions of the first and second electrodes are interposed
with each other in comb-teeth configuration with a uniform gap between
opposing ones of the protrusions.

38. The plasma display panel of claim 33, whereinany given protrusion end
portion facing the protrusion of an opposing one of the electrodes is
formed such that a contour of the protrusion end portion at a surface
parallel to a main surface of the respective band-shaped base is
polygonal or curved in shape.

39. A plasma display panel including a substrate whose main surface is
provided with a display electrode pair composed of a first electrode and
a second electrode, and having a structure in which a plurality of
discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the display
electrode pair extends, whereineach of the first and second electrodes
includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions protruding
from the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first electrode and of the
second electrode existing in each cell,in at least one of the electrodes,
any two adjacent protrusions of the electrode protrude an equal distance
from the base and form a pair,an end portion of each protrusion in the
pair is formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to a main
surface of the base is polygonal or curved in shape, andthe end portions
of the protrusions in the pair are inclined with respect to a width
direction of the respective band-shaped base such that a point of
intersection of center lines of the protrusions in the pair is further
away from the electrode than the protrusion end portions.

40. A plasma display panel including a substrate whose main surface is
provided with a display electrode pair composed of a first electrode and
a second electrode, and having a structure in which a plurality of
discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the display
electrode pair extends, whereineach of the first and second electrodes
includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions protruding
from the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first electrode and of the
second electrode existing in each cell,in at least one of the electrodes,
any two adjacent protrusions of the electrode protrude an equal distance
from the base and form a pair,an end portion of each protrusion in the
pair is formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to a main
surface of the base is polygonal or curved in shape, anda gap between the
protrusions constituting each of the pairs of protrusions is narrower on
a protrusion end side than on a base side.

41. A plasma display panel including a substrate whose main surface is
provided with a display electrode pair composed of a first electrode and
a second electrode, and having a structure in which a plurality of
discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the display
electrode pair extends, whereineach of the first and second electrodes
includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions protruding
from the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first electrode and of the
second electrode existing in each cell,in at least one of the electrodes,
any two adjacent protrusions of the electrode protrude an equal distance
from the base and form a pair, andend portions of the protrusions
constituting the pair are formed such that a contour at a surface
parallel to a main surface of the base is polygonal or curved in shape,
and are curved toward each other.

42. The plasma display panel of claim 39, whereinthe end portions of the
protrusions constituting two opposing pairs of protrusions of the first
and second electrodes are arranged such that, when the end portions are
assumed to define vertices of an enclosed area, the enclosed area is a
square.

43. The plasma display panel of claim 33, whereinat least one of the base
of the first electrode and the base of the second electrode is composed
of a bus electrode and a transparent electrode, andthe plurality of
protrusions extend from the bus electrodes and are formed from a same
type of material as the bus electrodes.

44. A plasma display panel including a substrate whose main surface is
provided with a display electrode pair composed of a first electrode and
a second electrode, and having a structure in which a plurality of
discharge cells are arranged in a direction in which the display
electrode pair extends, whereineach of the first and second electrodes
includes a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions protruding
from the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair, at least two of the protrusions of the first electrode and of the
second electrode existing in each cell,each of the first and second
electrodes includes a band-shaped base and a protrusion protruding from
the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair,each of the bases is composed of a bus electrode and a transparent
electrode,ends of the protrusions of the first and second electrodes are
formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to the main surface of
the base is an acute-angular shape, andthe protrusions of the first and
second electrodes extend from the bus electrodes, and are formed from a
same type of material as the bus electrodes.

45. The plasma display panel of claim 14, whereinthe end portions of the
protrusions constituting two opposing pairs of protrusions of the first
and second electrodes are arranged such that, when the end portions are
assumed to define vertices of an enclosed area, the enclosed area is a
square.

46. The plasma display panel of claim 15, whereinthe end portions of the
protrusions constituting two opposing pairs of protrusions of the first
and second electrodes are arranged such that, when the end portions are
assumed to define vertices of an enclosed area, the enclosed area is a
square.

47. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 24,
whereinthe substrate is a front substrate.

48. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 24,
further comprising the step of:forming a display electrode on the main
surface of the substrate, whereinthe display electrode formation step is
performed before the dielectric layer lamination step, and includes the
substeps offorming a band-shaped transparent electrode; andforming a
band-shaped bus electrode on a main surface of the transparent electrode,
andin the bus electrode formation substep, the bus electrode is formed
using a material including aluminum and neodymium as main components and
by a vacuum film-formation method.

49. The manufacturing method for the plasma display panel of claim 24,
whereinthe steps are performed in an atmosphere at room temperature to
300.degree. C. inclusive.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to a plasma display panel and a method
for manufacturing the same, and to a reduction in the discharge
sustaining voltage etc. during driving of the PDP, as well as an increase
in the lifetime of the PDP.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]Plasma display panels (hereinafter, referred to as "PDPs") are one
type of thin display device, and include direct current (DC) and
alternating current (AC) types. AC PDPs have a high technological
potential in view of large screen sizes, and among AC PDPs, surface
discharge PDPs have attracted attention in particular due to their
lifetime properties.

[0003]1. PDP Structure

[0004]FIGS. 11A and 11B show a structure of a surface discharge AC PDP
that is constituted from a front plate 702 and a back plate 703 disposed
in opposition to sandwich a discharge space therebetween.

[0005]As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the front plate 702 is constituted
from a glass substrate 710 whose main surface on the discharge space side
has a display electrode pair 704 constituted from a scan electrode 705
and a sustain electrode 706, a dielectric layer 707, and a protective
layer 708 laminated successively thereon. The scan electrode 705 and the
sustain electrode 706 are disposed in opposition to sandwich a gap D
therebetween of 50 [μm] and 100 [μm], and are each constituted from
a bus electrode 709 and transparent electrodes 755 and 756 respectively.

[0006]The bus electrodes 709 are metallic and narrow with a film thickness
of 5 [μm] to 6 [μm], and are disposed on main surfaces of the
transparent electrodes 755 and 756. The bus electrodes 709 are provided
by, for example, a thick film process of printing a layer of Ag paste,
and baking the printed layer.

[0007]The dielectric layer 707 is formed by a thick film process of baking
a low melting glass paste that includes a lead glass material as a main
component and has been applied by a printing method, and the film
thickness of the dielectric layer 707 is set to approximately 40 [μm].

[0008]The lead glass material used in the dielectric layer 707 has, for
example, a relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. of approximately
13.

[0009]The protective layer 708 has a film thickness set to several hundred
[nm], and a main component thereof is MgO having good electrical
insulating properties.

[0010]An area where one display electrode pair 704 and a data electrode
712 included in the back plate 703 three-dimensionally intersect is
called a discharge cell, and the areas shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B
correspond to discharge cells.

[0011]It is the display electrode pair 704 that directly contributes to
PDP image display, whereas the data electrode 712 is for selecting a
discharge cell, which is a unit of image display, and does not directly
contribute to emission in image display.

[0012]The PDP is made up of discharge cells, which are units of image
display, arranged in a matrix configuration. The PDP is assumed to be a
PDP apparatus that includes a known drive circuit, control circuit, and
the like.

[0013]2. PDP Drive Method

[0014]Display of the PDP is driven by an address-display separation drive
scheme that includes three operation periods, which are specifically (1)
an initialization period in which all display cells are put into an
initialized state, (2) a data writing period in which the discharge cells
are addressed, and display states corresponding to input data are
selected and input to the addressed discharge cells, and (3) a sustained
discharge period in which the discharge cells in the display states are
caused to perform display emission.

[0015]In (3) the sustained discharge period, rectangular voltage pulses of
approximately 200 [V] and having mutually different phases are applied to
the scan electrode 705 and the sustain electrode 706 in discharge cells
in which wall charges corresponding to input data have been formed during
(2) the writing period. In other words, applying alternating voltages
between display electrode pairs causes the generation of pulse discharges
in discharge cells to which display states have been written, each time
there is a change in voltage polarity.

[0016]Xenon is excited by the sustain discharge, ultraviolet radiation is
emitted from the excited xenon, and the ultraviolet radiation is
converted to visible light by a phosphor layer 715, thereby causing image
display.

[0017]However, as previously mentioned, in a conventional PDP the bus
electrodes 709 and the dielectric layer 707 are formed by thick film
processes that include a baking step. The baking step involves high
temperatures between 500 [° C.] and 600 [° C.], and there
are cases in which the binder baking material included in the paste
remains in the bus electrodes 709 after baking.

[0018]Therefore, during baking of the dielectric layer 707, gas bubbles
readily form in portions where the bus electrodes 709 and the dielectric
layer 707 are in contact, and areas of the dielectric layer 707
corresponding to such bubble formation areas are thinner than other areas
of the dielectric layer 707. Also, given that the dielectric layer 707
has a low dielectric breakdown voltage of approximately
2.5×105 [V/cm] since the density of the baking material is
low, thin areas are formed in the dielectric layer 707, resulting in a
low withstand voltage in the PDP. As such, dielectric breakdown readily
occurs in the dielectric layer 707 during high voltage application etc.
in the initialization period.

[0019]It is therefore necessary to set the film thickness of the
dielectric layer 707 to a high 40 [μm] in a conventional PDP in order
to improve the withstand voltage of the dielectric layer 707, and as a
result, it is necessary to set the discharge inception voltage and
discharge sustaining voltage high, which makes it difficult to improve
the luminous efficiency.

[0020]One technique that has been disclosed in response to this problem
(e.g., see patent document 1) is a dielectric layer that has a multilayer
film structure formed by using a vacuum deposition method or sputtering
method to laminate, in the stated order, a first layer composed of
Al2O3, a second layer composed of glass including 80%
SiO2, and a third layer composed of Al2O3, where the first
layer directly covers electrodes including double layers of Cr and Cu
formed by vacuum deposition.

[0021]According to the invention recited in patent document 1, cracks do
not occur since an Al2O3 film formed by a thin film process
using a vapor deposition method or sputtering method is used as the first
and third layers, and using glass including 80% SiO2 as the second
layer enables the formation of a thin dielectric layer in which cracks do
not occur.

[0022]Further disclosed (e.g., see patent document 2) is a dielectric
layer composed of a bottom layer and a top layer, the bottom layer being
composed of a metal oxide formed on an electrode by a vacuum process such
as a CVD method, sputtering, or deposition, and the top layer being
composed of dielectric glass formed on the bottom layer.

[0023]According to the invention recited in patent document 2, a thin
dielectric layer in which dielectric breakdown does not readily occur
during PDP driving can be formed by, when coating the dielectric layer on
an Ag electrode formed by printing an Ag paste and baking the paste,
first using a CVD method to form a layer of a metal oxide that generates
a hydroxyl group on the surface such as ZnO, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2,
SiO2, Al2O3, Cr2O3, etc. with a thickness of 0.1
[μm] to 10 [μm] on a surface of the Ag electrode, and then coating
a dielectric layer composed of dielectric glass thereupon.

[0024]Also, it is known in such a PDP that a microscopic electrode pair
may be disposed in the gap D as a means for reducing the discharge
inception voltage and discharge sustaining voltage to lower energy
consumption.

[0025]For example, patent document 3 discloses a pair of auxiliary
electrodes (trigger electrodes) that are disposed in a gap between a scan
electrode and a sustain electrode, where each of the auxiliary electrodes
is provided with wings at a center of a discharge cell, so as to have a
wider area at the center portion of the discharge cell than at the edges
thereof. Since discharges occur in gaps between the provided wings,
sustain discharges occur reliably even with a low discharge sustaining
voltage and discharge inception voltage, thereby enabling an improvement
in discharge efficiency during sustain discharges.

[0026]Also, patent document 4 discloses, as shown in a discharge cell 800
of FIG. 12, a scan electrode 805 and a sustain electrode 806 constituting
a main display electrode pair 802, and an auxiliary discharge electrode
pair 801 that is formed on opposing faces of the scan electrode 805 and
the sustain electrode 806 to sandwich a gap g therebetween that is
narrower than a gap G sandwiched by the electrodes 805 and 806, and has a
higher sheet resistivity than the main display electrode pair 802.
Furthermore, the applied voltage pulse is a rectangular pulse that has a
high luminous efficiency, and the voltage value thereof is set such that
a discharge does not occur between the scan electrode 805 and the sustain
electrode 806 when there is not discharge between the auxiliary display
electrodes constituting the auxiliary display electrode pair 801, but
does occur between the scan electrode 805 and the sustain electrode 806
when there is a discharge between the auxiliary display electrodes. Note
that FIG. 12 is a relevant planar diagram indicating part of a display
electrode pair of a PDP, where the view is from a back plate not
depicted, and the area enclosed in a dashed double-dotted line
corresponds to the discharge cell.

[0027]Employing this structure and setting the voltage value as mentioned
above enables control of the discharge delay time and shorter discharge
delays, and can be expected to reliably initiate sustain discharges even
if the discharge inception voltage is lowered.

[0032]However, patent document 1 does not indicate any contributions by
the invention disclosed therein regarding withstand voltage, discharge
inception voltage, or luminous efficiency, and given that the dielectric
layer includes three layers with mutually different materials formed by a
vacuum deposition method or sputtering method, there are different film
formation conditions for each of the different target materials when
forming the layers. This is a complicated thin film process, which makes
it difficult to reliably and stably manufacture the PDP. Furthermore, the
dielectric layer, which is formed by a vacuum deposition method or
sputtering method using glass including 80% SiO2 and Al2O3
still has a low density and small dielectric breakdown voltage, thereby
making it necessary to make the dielectric layer thicker to improve the
withstand voltage, and requiring a high discharge inception voltage and
discharge sustain voltage for the discharge cell. In this case, it is
difficult to improve luminous efficiency.

[0033]Also, in the invention of patent document 2, a metal oxide is formed
by a CVD method etc. on an electrode formed by applying and baking an Ag
paste, and a dielectric layer composed of dielectric glass is formed
further thereon. Therefore, the metal oxide is formed by a CVD method so
as to cover the thick Ag electrode, making it difficult to prevent gas
bubbles etc. since the dielectric layer is further coated thereon and
baked. Moreover, a thin film process and printing process are employed as
processes for forming the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer
absorbs impure gases since such steps involve exposure to air, thereby
making it difficult to reliably and stably manufacture the PDP.

[0034]Also, protective layers in both of the inventions of patent
documents 1 and 2 are exposed to the air after having been formed by thin
film processes, and therefore absorb impurities in the air.

[0035]Specifically, the metal oxide such as MgO constituting the
protective layers absorbs water (H2O) and gas impurities such as
carbon dioxide (CO2), and easily changes in nature due to the
hydroxylate compound and carbonic compound, and therefore a PDP including
a protective layer whose main component is MgO that has changed in nature
due to a hydroxylate compound and carbonic compound will have a lower
secondary electron emission coefficient than a PDP including a protective
layer whose main component is proper MgO. The discharge inception voltage
therefore increases and the sputter resistance property is reduced.

[0036]Also, in the invention recited in patent document 3, the discharge
inception voltage required to reliably initiate a sustain discharge
remains high at approximately 180 [V], which is too high in light of
demand to reduce the energy consumption of PDPs.

[0037]Also, if the discharge delay is reduced, it should be possible to
reliably initiate a sustain discharge even if the discharge inception
voltage is reduced. However, even though the discharge delay is lowered
in the invention recited in patent document 4, the voltage value is set
such that discharges occur at the same time between the auxiliary display
electrode pair 801 and between the main display electrode pair 802, as a
result of which, the voltage value must be set high so as to generate the
sustain discharges, and the discharge inception voltage is high at
approximately 180 [V], which is too high in light of demand to reduce the
energy consumption of PDPs.

[0038]The present invention has been achieved in view of such problems,
and aims to provide a PDP able to lower the discharge inception voltage
and discharge sustain voltage and improve luminous efficiency, and a
manufacturing method for the PDP, which is able to improve the lifetime
of the PDP and manufacture the PDP with stable quality.

Means to Solve the Problems

[0039]The present invention employs the following means in order to solve
the aforementioned problems.

[0040]Specifically, in a plasma display panel of the present invention, a
pair of substrates have been disposed in opposition to sandwich
therebetween a discharge space, a plurality of display electrode pairs
have been disposed extending on one of the substrates on a main surface
facing the discharge space, the display electrode pairs are each composed
of a first and a second electrode, each of the first and second
electrodes is composed of a band-shaped transparent electrode and a bus
electrode that is provided on the transparent electrode on a surface
thereof facing the discharge space and that is narrower than the width of
the transparent electrode in the width direction, a dielectric layer has
been laminated on one of the substrates on a surface thereof facing the
discharge space so as to cover the display electrode pairs, and a
protective layer has been laminated on the dielectric layer on the main
surface thereof facing the discharge space, wherein the dielectric layer
has a dielectric breakdown voltage of 1.0×106 [V/cm] to
1.0×107 [V/cm] inclusive.

[0041]In the present invention, a manufacturing method for the plasma
display panel includes the steps of: laminating a dielectric layer on a
main surface of a substrate; and transporting or storing the substrate on
which the dielectric layer has been laminated, wherein a reduced pressure
state is maintained from the dielectric layer lamination step until the
dielectric layer-laminated substrate transportation/storage step.

[0042]Also, in the present invention, a manufacturing method for a plasma
display panel includes the steps of: laminating a dielectric layer on a
substrate main surface; laminating a protective film on a main surface of
the dielectric layer; and transporting or storing the substrate on which
the protective film has been laminated, wherein a reduced pressure state
is maintained from the protective film lamination step until the
protective film-laminated substrate transportation/storage step.

[0043]Also, in order to achieve the above aim, in the PDP of the present
invention, the PDP may be provided with a substrate having disposed
extending on a main surface thereof a display electrode pair composed of
a first and second electrode, and a plurality of discharge cells may be
arranged in a direction in which the display electrode pair extends,
wherein each of the first and second electrodes includes a band-shaped
base and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base toward the
base of the other one of the electrodes in the pair, at least two of the
protrusions of the first electrode and of the second electrode existing
in each cell.

[0044]Also, in the PDP of the present invention, any given protrusion end
portion facing the protrusion of an opposing one of the electrodes may be
formed such that a contour of the protrusion end portion at a surface
parallel to a main surface of the respective band-shaped base is
polygonal or curved in shape.

[0045]Also, in the PDP of the present invention, in at least one of the
first and second electrodes, any two adjacent protrusions of the
electrode may protrude an equal distance from the base and form a pair,
an end portion of each protrusion in the pair may be formed such that a
contour at a surface parallel to a main surface of the base is polygonal
or curved in shape, and the protrusions may have any of the features of
the following (1) to (3).

[0046](1) The end portions of the protrusions in the pair are inclined
with respect to a width direction of the respective band-shaped base such
that a point of intersection of center lines of the protrusions in the
pair is further away from the electrode than the protrusion end portions.

[0047](2) A gap between the protrusions constituting each of the pairs of
protrusions is narrower on a protrusion end side than on a base side.

[0048](3) End portions of the protrusions constituting the pair are formed
so as to be curved toward each other.

[0049]Also, in the PDP of the present invention, each of the first and
second electrodes includes a band-shaped base and a protrusion protruding
from the base toward the base of the other one of the electrodes in the
pair, each of the bases is composed of a bus electrode and a transparent
electrode, ends of the protrusions of the first and second electrodes are
formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to the main surface of
the base is acutely angled or curved, and the protrusions of the first
and second electrodes extend from the bus electrodes, and are formed from
a same type of material as the bus electrodes.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0050]As described above, in the plasma display panel of the present
invention, the dielectric layer has a dielectric breakdown voltage of
1.0×106 [V/cm] to 1.0×107 [V/cm] inclusive, and
since the dielectric layer of a conventional PDP has a dielectric
breakdown voltage of approximately 2.5×105 [V/cm], the
dielectric layer can be made thinner than in a conventional PDP while
maintaining a high withstand voltage.

[0051]As such, in the PDP of the present invention, the dielectric layer
is thinner than in a conventional PDP, thereby enabling an improvement in
electric field intensity, and sustaining discharges can be readily
generated even if the discharge sustaining voltage is reduced.

[0052]In the plasma display panel pertaining to the present invention, it
is therefore possible to reduce the discharge inception voltage and the
discharge sustaining voltage while improving luminous efficiency.

[0053]In the PDP of the present invention, the dielectric layer may have
been formed by a chemical vapor deposition method and include Si atoms
and O atoms. This enables an easy improvement in the density of the
dielectric layer, and the formation of a denser and thinner dielectric
layer than in a conventional PDP, and makes it possible to easily set the
range of the dielectric breakdown voltage of the dielectric layer, which
is preferable.

[0054]In the PDP of the present invention, the dielectric layer maybe have
been formed by an inductively-coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition
method (ICP-CVD method), which enables the dielectric layer to be formed
more quickly than in a conventional PDP, and increases mass productivity,
which is preferable.

[0055]Also, the relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. may be in a
range of 2 to 5 inclusive, and the film thickness d of the dielectric
layer may be in a range of 1 [μm] to 10 [μm] inclusive, which
enables the formation of a thinner dielectric layer than in a
conventional PDP while maintaining the withstand voltage, and since the
dielectric layer is thinner than in a conventional PDP, transmissivity
can be improved, and warpage of the substrates can be reduced, which is
preferable.

[0056]Also, a ratio (.di-elect cons./d) between a relative dielectric
constant .di-elect cons. and a film thickness d of the at least one
dielectric layer may be in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 inclusive, which enables
the suppression of an increase in the electrostatic capacity, and
reliably improves luminous efficiency since it is possible to suppress
the discharge current from exceeding the amount necessary to generate a
sustaining discharge, which is preferable.

[0057]Each of the first and second electrodes may include a band-shaped
base and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base toward the
base of the other one of the electrodes in the pair, and at least two of
the protrusions of the first electrode and of the second electrode may
exist in each cell, whereby when power is supplied to the first and
second electrodes, in each discharge cell an electric potential is
concentrated at the protrusions, and the electric field intensity in the
discharge space is improved over a conventional PDP. In this case, the
above effects are enhanced.

[0058]Consequently, in this case, two or more sites where discharges
readily occur can be provided in each discharge cell, and, compared with
providing only one pair of protrusions in each discharge cell, the
electric field intensity in the discharge space is improved, discharges
are more readily generated, and a sustain discharge can be reliably
generated even if the discharge inception voltage is lowered. In this
case, the above effects are further enhanced.

[0059]In particular, in this case, two or more protrusions are provided in
each discharge cell, whereby even if there is some misalignment of the
protrusions in the direction in which the bases extend, the reliability
of sustain discharges is higher than when there is only one pair of
protrusions in each discharge cell.

[0060]Consequently, in this case, compared with a conventional PDP and a
PDP provided with only one pair of protrusions in each discharge cell,
the discharge inception voltage for reliably generating a sustain
discharge and the discharge sustaining voltage can be lowered, and the
power consumption of the PDP can be lowered, which is preferable.

[0061]For example, in each of the discharge cells, the protrusions of the
first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged so as to oppose
each other, and any two opposing protrusions may protrude an equal
distance, and adjacent protrusions may protrude an equal distance, and
the plurality of protrusions may exist in three or more groups in each of
the discharge cells, each group including one of the protrusions of the
first electrode and an opposing one of the protrusions of the second
electrode, and among the three or more groups, a group of protrusions
positioned in a central portion of the discharge cell may protrude a
smallest distance, and remaining groups may protrude an increasing
distance in accordance with increasing distance from the central portion
of the discharge cell, or alternatively, a group of protrusions
positioned in a central portion of the discharge cell may protrude a
greatest distance, and remaining groups may protrude a decreasing
distance in accordance with increasing distance from the central portion
of the discharge cell, in which case the above effects are enhanced since
the protrusion distances are properly adjusted.

[0062]In particular, in this case in which the protrusion distances are
adjusted differently at the center portion and at the ends, the aperture
ratio of each discharge cell is improved, and the PDP of the present
invention can be a high-definition PDP, which is preferable.

[0063]Any given protrusion end portion facing the protrusion of an
opposing one of the electrodes may be formed such that a contour of the
protrusion end portion at a surface parallel to a main surface of the
respective band-shaped base is polygonal or curved in shape, whereby when
power is supplied to the first and second electrodes to generate a
sustain discharge, electric potential is concentrated at the protrusions,
and further concentrated at the tips of the protrusions, and the electric
field intensity is strengthened in the discharge space. In this case
discharges can be reliably generated even when using a low voltage, and
two or more sites where discharges are reliably generated are provided,
whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0064]Also, in at least one of the electrodes, any two adjacent
protrusions of the electrode may protrude an equal distance from the base
and form a pair, an end portion of each protrusion in the pair may be
formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to a main surface of the
base is polygonal or curved in shape, and any of the features of the
above (1) to (3) may be provided, whereby an equipotential line is
connected between the tips of adjacent protrusions of the same electrode,
and the equipotential line juts out toward the other electrode. Since the
discharge distance is even shorter in this case, the discharge inception
voltage can be lowered even further, whereby the above effects are
enhanced.

[0065]The tips having the features of any of the above (1) to (3) may be
provided such that when the tips are assumed to define vertices of an
enclosed area, the enclosed area is a square, whereby an equipotential
line is connected between the tips of adjacent protrusions of the same
electrode, and the equipotential line juts out toward the other
electrode. Since discharges can be most readily generated in this case,
the above effects are enhanced.

[0066]Also, each of the bus electrodes may include aluminum and neodymium
as main components, and have been formed in a vacuum or at a reduced
pressure, whereby the resistance and film thickness can be lowered more
than in a conventional PDP, differences in the thickness of the
dielectric layer can be suppressed even when laminated so as to cover the
bus electrodes. The dielectric layer can therefore be formed thinly, and
migration which occurs during driving can be suppressed, which is
preferable.

[0067]At least one of the bases may be constituted from a bus electrode
and a transparent electrode, and the plurality of protrusions may extend
from the bus electrodes and be formed from a same type of material as the
bus electrodes, whereby the protrusions can also be formed at the same
time as forming the bus electrodes using the same microfabrication
process used when forming the bus electrodes, and the electrical
resistance from the bus electrodes to the protrusions can be lowered.

[0068]Consequently, in this case, the PDP pertaining to the present
invention can be manufactured easily, and the dimensions of the discharge
cells can be reduced easily, thereby realizing a PDP with improved
response, which is preferable.

[0069]Furthermore, each of the first and second electrodes may include a
band-shaped base and a protrusion protruding from the base toward the
base of the other one of the electrodes in the pair, each of the bases
may be composed of a bus electrode and a transparent electrode, ends of
the protrusions of the first and second electrodes may be formed such
that a contour at a surface parallel to the main surface of the base is
an acute-angular shape, and the protrusions of the first and second
electrodes may extend from the bus electrodes and be formed from a same
type of material as the bus electrodes, whereby electric potential is
concentrated at the protrusions, and further concentrated at the tips of
the protrusions, and the electric field intensity is strengthened in the
discharge space. In this case discharges can be reliably generated even
when using a low voltage, whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0070]In this case, the protrusions can be formed at the same time as the
bus electrodes, and the electrical resistance from the bus electrodes to
the protrusions is lowered, therefore reducing power consumption and
enabling the PDP to be high-definition.

[0071]The protective film may include MgO as a main component, be
laminated on the main surface of the respective dielectric layer on the
discharge space side in a vacuum or at a reduced pressure, and be stored
in the vacuum or at the reduced pressure until the pair of substrates
were joined together, which compared to a conventional PDP, suppresses
the presence of impurities in the protective layer, thereby improving the
secondary electron emission coefficient and the sputter resistance of the
protective film, and reducing the discharge inception voltage even
further improves the sputter resistance of the protective film, thereby
further improving luminous efficiency and reliability, which is
preferable.

[0072]The substrate may have a thickness t in a range of 0.5 [mm] to 1.1
[mm] inclusive, which enables a thinner and lighter weight PDP than a
conventional PDP, and the substrate may be composed of a plastic
material, thereby further reducing the weight of the PDP, which is
preferable.

[0073]Also, in a manufacturing method for the PDP of the present
invention, a reduced pressure state is maintained from the dielectric
layer lamination step until the dielectric layer-laminated substrate
transportation/storage step, or a reduced pressure state is maintained
from the protective film lamination step until the protective
film-laminated substrate transportation/storage step, whereby the
dielectric layer and the protective film are formed without coming into
contact with air, that is to say, the adsorption of impure gases can be
suppressed over a conventional manufacturing method for a PDP.

[0074]Moreover, in the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present
invention, the manufacturing process is simpler than in the manufacturing
method for the PDP of patent document 1, and the quality and reliability
of the PDP of the present invention are improved.

[0075]This, compared with a conventional PDP, enables the manufacture of a
PDP with a long life, high reliability, and stable quality.

[0076]The substrate may be the front substrate, whereby the dielectric
layer and protective film formed on the front substrate do not absorb
impure gases, and the above effects are enhanced since the front plate in
particular greatly contribute to the shortening of the life of the PDP.

[0077]The manufacturing method for the PDP of the present invention may
further include the step of forming a display electrode on the main
surface of the substrate, wherein the display electrode formation step is
performed before the dielectric layer lamination step, and includes the
substeps of forming a band-shaped transparent electrode; and forming a
band-shaped bus electrode on a main surface of the transparent electrode,
and in the bus electrode formation substep, the bus electrode is formed
using a material including aluminum and neodymium as main components and
by a vacuum film-formation method, whereby a thin bus electrode can be
formed since the resistance of the bus electrode can be made smaller than
in a conventional PDP due to being formed from a material that includes
aluminum and neodymium as the main components. In this case, differences
in the thickness distribution of the dielectric layer can be suppressed
even when formed so as to cover the bus electrodes, and dielectric
breakdown in the dielectric layer can be suppressed, whereby the above
effects are enhanced.

[0078]Also, the bus electrode can be formed by a low temperature process
due to using a material that includes aluminum and neodymium as the main
components, and the above-mentioned vacuum deposition process is a low
temperature process, which is preferable. Also, the low temperature
process can be performed when patterning the bus electrode by a drying
etching method since the material includes aluminum, which is preferable.

[0079]Also, in this case, the bus electrode is formed using a vacuum
deposition method, which due to being a low temperature process, enables
the suppression of warpage and cracks in the substrates that occur when
using a high temperature process, whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0080]In the protective film lamination step, the protective film may be
laminated using a material including Mg atoms and O atoms as main
components and by a vacuum film-formation method, which enables the
suppression of warpage and cracks in the substrates that occur when using
a high temperature process since the vacuum deposition process is a low
temperature, whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0081]The substrate may be a back substrate, the manufacturing method may
further include the steps of: before the dielectric layer lamination
step, forming a data electrode on the main surface of the back substrate;
after transportation in the dielectric layer-laminated substrate
transportation/storage step, providing barrier ribs so as to be upright
on a main surface of the dielectric layer; and forming a phosphor layer
on side surfaces of the barrier ribs and on the main surface of the
dielectric layer, and the reduced pressure state may be maintained from
the dielectric layer lamination step until the phosphor layer formation
step, whereby the dielectric layer formed on the back substrate does not
absorb impure gases, and the above effects are enhanced.

[0082]In the data electrode formation step, the data electrode may be
formed using a material including aluminum and neodymium as main
components and by a vacuum film-formation method, whereby a thin data
electrode can be formed as a result of having a lower resistance than in
a conventional PDP since the bus electrode is formed using a material
that includes aluminum and neodymium as the main components. In this
case, differences in the thickness distribution of the dielectric layer
can be suppressed even when formed so as to cover the data electrode, and
dielectric breakdown in the dielectric layer can be suppressed, whereby
the above effects are enhanced

[0083]Also, the data electrode can be formed by a low temperature process
due to using a material that includes aluminum and neodymium as the main
components, and the above-mentioned vacuum deposition process is a low
temperature process, which is preferable. Also, the low temperature
process can be performed when patterning the data electrode by a drying
etching method since the material includes aluminum, which is preferable.

[0084]Also, in this case, the data electrode is formed using a vacuum
deposition method, which due to being a low temperature process, enables
the suppression of warpage and cracks in the substrates that occur when
using a high temperature process, whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0085]The steps of the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present
invention may be performed in an atmosphere at room temperature to 300
[° C.] inclusive, whereby warpage and cracks in the panel are
reliably suppressed, which is preferable. Also, in the steps, compared
with a conventional manufacturing method for a PDP, the manufacturing
time and power consumption during manufacturing are reduced, and the
range of wiring materials that may be selected can be widened.

[0086]In the dielectric layer lamination step, the dielectric layer may be
laminated using a chemical vapor deposition method, thereby enabling the
lamination of a dielectric layer with a higher density, more elaborate
structure, and higher dielectric breakdown voltage than in a conventional
manufacturing method for a PDP. This enables the easy manufacture of a
PDP that includes a dielectric layer with a dielectric breakdown voltage
in the above-mentioned ranged.

[0087]Consequently, this enables the lamination of a thinner dielectric
layer than in a conventional manufacturing method for a PDP, and the
manufacture of a PDP in which the electric field in the discharge space
is stronger during driving than in a conventional PDP. This enables the
manufacture of a PDP with a lowered discharge sustain voltage and
discharge inception voltage, and with a high discharge efficiency, which
is preferable.

[0088]The chemical vapor deposition method may be an ICP-CVD method,
thereby enabling the high-speed lamination of the dielectric layer, which
is preferable.

[0089]In the PDP of the present invention, each of the first and second
electrodes may include a band-shaped base and a plurality of protrusions
protruding from the base toward the base of the other one of the
electrodes in the pair, and at least two of the protrusions of the first
electrode and of the second electrode may exist in each cell, whereby
when power is supplied to the first and second electrodes, in each
discharge cell an electric potential is concentrated at the protrusions,
and the electric field intensity in the discharge space is improved over
a conventional PDP.

[0090]Consequently, in the PDP of the present invention, two or more sites
where discharges readily occur can be provided in each discharge cell,
and, compared with providing only one pair of protrusions in each
discharge cell, the electric field intensity in the discharge space is
improved, and discharges are more readily generated.

[0091]As a result, in the PDP of the present invention, a sustain
discharge can be reliably generated even if the discharge inception
voltage is lowered, and the discharge inception voltage and discharge
sustaining voltage can be lowered.

[0092]In particular, in the PDP of the present invention, two or more
protrusions are provided in each discharge cell, whereby even if there is
some misalignment of the protrusions in the direction in which the bases
extend, the reliability of sustain discharges is higher than when there
is only one pair of protrusions in each discharge cell.

[0093]Consequently, in the PDP of the present invention, compared with a
conventional PDP and a PDP provided with only one pair of protrusions in
each discharge cell, the discharge inception voltage for reliably
generating a sustain discharge and the discharge sustaining voltage can
be lowered, and the power consumption of the PDP can be lowered.

[0094]For example, in each of the discharge cells, the protrusions of the
first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged so as to oppose
each other, and any two opposing protrusions may protrude an equal
distance, and adjacent protrusions may protrude an equal distance, and
the plurality of protrusions may exist in three or more groups in each of
the discharge cells, each group including one of the protrusions of the
first electrode and an opposing one of the protrusions of the second
electrode, and among the three or more groups, a group of protrusions
positioned in a central portion of the discharge cell may protrude a
smallest distance, and remaining groups may protrude an increasing
distance in accordance with increasing distance from the central portion
of the discharge cell, or alternatively, a group of protrusions
positioned in a central portion of the discharge cell may protrude a
greatest distance, and remaining groups may protrude a decreasing
distance in accordance with increasing distance from the central portion
of the discharge cell, in which case the above effects are enhanced since
the protrusion distances are properly adjusted.

[0095]In particular, in this case in which the protrusion distances are
adjusted differently at the center portion and at the ends, the aperture
ratio of each discharge cell is improved, and the PDP of the present
invention can be a high-definition PDP, which is preferable.

[0096]Any given protrusion end portion facing the protrusion of an
opposing one of the electrodes may be formed such that a contour of the
protrusion end portion at a surface parallel to a main surface of the
respective band-shaped base is polygonal or curved in shape, whereby when
power is supplied to the first and second electrodes to generate a
sustain discharge, electric potential is concentrated at the protrusions,
and further concentrated at the tips of the protrusions. In this case
discharges can be reliably generated even when using a low voltage, and
two or more sites where discharges are reliably generated are provided,
whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0097]Also, in at least one of the electrodes, any two adjacent
protrusions of the electrode may protrude an equal distance from the base
and form a pair, an end portion of each protrusion in the pair may be
formed such that a contour at a surface parallel to a main surface of the
base is polygonal or curved in shape, and any of the features of the
above (1) to (3) may be provided, whereby an equipotential line is
connected between the tips of adjacent protrusions of the same electrode,
and the equipotential line juts out toward the other electrode. Since the
discharge distance between different electrodes is even shorter in this
case, the discharge inception voltage can be lowered even further,
whereby the above effects are enhanced.

[0098]The tips having the features of any of the above (1) to (3) may be
provided such that when the tips are assumed to define vertices of an
enclosed area, the enclosed area is a square, whereby an equipotential
line is connected between the tips of adjacent protrusions of the same
electrode, and the equipotential line juts out toward the other
electrode. Since discharges can be most readily generated in this case,
the above effects are enhanced.

[0099]At least one of the bases may be constituted from a bus electrode
and a transparent electrode, and the plurality of protrusions may extend
from the bus electrodes and be formed from a same type of material as the
bus electrodes, whereby the protrusions can also be formed at the same
time as forming the bus electrodes using the same microfabrication
process used when forming the bus electrodes, and the electrical
resistance from the bus electrodes to the protrusions can be lowered.

[0100]Consequently, in this case, the PDP pertaining to the present
invention can be manufactured easily, and the dimensions of the discharge
cells can be reduced easily, thereby realizing a PDP with improved
response and the above effects.

[0101]Furthermore, each of the first and second electrodes may include a
band-shaped base and a protrusion protruding from the base toward the
base of the other one of the electrodes in the pair, each of the bases
may be composed of a bus electrode and a transparent electrode, ends of
the protrusions of the first and second electrodes may be formed such
that a contour at a surface parallel to the main surface of the base is
an acute-angular shape, and the protrusions of the first and second
electrodes may extend from the bus electrodes and be formed from a same
type of material as the bus electrodes, whereby electric potential is
concentrated at the protrusions, and further concentrated at the tips of
the protrusions, and the electric field intensity is strengthened in the
discharge space. In this case discharges can be reliably generated even
when using a low voltage, the protrusions can be formed at the same time
as the bus electrodes, and the electrical resistance from the bus
electrodes to the protrusion tips can be lowered.

[0102]In the PDP of the present invention, it is therefore possible to
reduce power consumption and have high definition.

[0103]Note that the structures of the present invention as described above
can be combined with each other as long as such combination does not
diverge from the purpose of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104]FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual cross-sectional diagrams showing a
structure of a discharge cell of a PDP 1 pertaining to embodiment 1 of
the present invention;

[0105]FIG. 2 is a conceptual flowchart showing steps in a manufacturing
method for the PDP 1 pertaining to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0106]FIG. 3 is a conceptual cross-sectional diagram showing formation
steps for a front plate 2 in the manufacturing method for the PDP 1
pertaining to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0107]FIG. 4 is a conceptual cross-sectional diagram showing formation
steps for a back plate 3 in the manufacturing method for the PDP 1
pertaining to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0108]FIG. 5A is a relevant cross-sectional view of a structure of a PDP
in embodiment 3, and FIG. 5B is a relevant cross-sectional view taken
along plane X-Y in FIG. 5A;

[0109]FIG. 6A is a relevant planar diagram showing part of a discharge
cell of a PDP in variation 1 of embodiment 3, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged
relevant planar diagram showing the part indicated in FIG. 6A;

[0110]FIG. 7A is a relevant planar diagram showing part of a discharge
cell of a PDP in variation 2 of embodiment 3, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged
relevant planar diagram showing the part indicated in FIG. 7A;

[0111]FIG. 8A is a relevant planar diagram showing part of a discharge
cell of a PDP in variation 3 of embodiment 3, and FIG. 8B is a relevant
planar diagram showing a different embodiment of variation 3;

[0112]FIG. 9A is a relevant planar diagram showing part of a discharge
cell of a PDP in embodiment 4, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged relevant planar
diagram showing the part indicated in FIG. 9A;

[0113]FIG. 10 is a relevant planar diagram showing part of a discharge
cell of a PDP in embodiment 5;

[0114]FIG. 11A is a relevant cross-sectional diagram showing a
cross-section of a conventional surface discharge PDP cut along a display
electrode, and FIG. 11B is a relevant cross-sectional view of FIG. 11A
taken along plane X-X; and

[0115]FIG. 12 is a relevant planar diagram showing part of a front plate
of a PDP recited in patent document 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0116]Embodiments of the present invention are described below with
reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

[0117]FIG. 1A shows a cross section of a unit discharge cell of a PDP 101
in embodiment 1 of the present invention, taken along barrier rib 114
that has been cut vertically, and FIG. 1B shows a cross section taken
along X-Y in FIG. 1A. Note that although FIG. 1 shows only the unit
discharge cell for the sake of simplicity, a plurality of discharge cells
emitting red, green and blue light are disposed in a matrix configuration
in the PDP of embodiment 1.

[0118]1. Structure of the PDP 101

[0119]As shown in FIG. 1A, the PDP 101 includes a front plate 102 and a
back plate 103 that are disposed in opposition. The front plate 102 of
the PDP 101 includes a thin substrate 110, a display electrode pair 104
formed on a main surface of the thin substrate 110, and a dielectric
layer 107 and a protective film 108 that have been laminated in the
stated order so as to cover the main surface of the substrate 110. The
substrate 110 is composed of, for example, a glass material, and has a
thickness of approximately 1.1 [mm].

[0120]As shown in FIG. 1B, the display electrode pair 104 includes a scan
electrode 105 and a sustain electrode 106 that together form a pair, are
disposed in opposition to sandwich a gap of, for example, 50 [μm] to
100 [μm] therebetween, and are provided in a stripe configuration.

[0121]The scan electrode 105 and the sustain electrode 106 are formed by
patterning transparent electrodes 151 and 161 respectively on the main
surface of the substrate 110 in a wide band configuration, the
transparent electrodes 151 and 161 being composed of ITO (indium-tin
oxide) and having a relatively high resistance and a film thickness set
to, for example, approximately 100 [nm].

[0122]The main component of the transparent electrodes 151 and 161 may be
SnO2 (tin oxide), ZnO (zinc oxide), or the like.

[0123]In order to lower the electrical resistance of the transparent
electrodes 151 and 161 of the scan electrode 105 and the sustain
electrode 106, bus electrodes 159 and 169 that include, for example,
Al--Nd (aluminum-neodymium) as a main component are disposed on main
surfaces of the transparent electrodes 151 and 161.

[0124]The bus electrodes 159 and 169 are disposed in a narrower
configuration than the transparent electrodes 151 and 161.

[0125]The bus electrodes 159 and 169 are not limited to this, but rather
may include at least Al and a rare earth metal as main components.

[0126]A thickness of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 is set to
approximately 1 [μm].

[0127]In the present embodiment, the thickness of the bus electrodes 159
and 169 can be easily set to the above value since they are constituted
from an Al series metal alloy thin film formed by a sputtering method and
patterned by a dry etching method.

[0128]The bus electrodes 159 and 169 are not limited to this, but rather
may be formed from layers of films by a vacuum film formation process,
and be patterned by a photo etching method.

[0129]Here, the vacuum film formation process refers to a process of
forming thin films in a vacuum, and includes a vacuum vapor deposition
method, an electron beam vapor deposition method, a plasma beam vapor
deposition method, chemical vapor deposition methods (CVD methods), a
sputtering method, and the like.

[0130]The bus electrodes 159 and 169 are disposed substantially parallel
to each other, similarly to the transparent electrodes 151 and 161.

[0131]The bus electrodes 159 and 169 are thinner than in a conventional
PDP, and in contrast to a metal that includes Ag as the main component, a
metal including Al--Nd as the main component is more homogenous and has
superior electrical properties (low resistance). Due to including Al--Nd
as the main component, the bus electrodes 159 and 169 can maintain the
same performance as bus electrodes of a conventional PDP panel which
include Ag as the component, even when the bus electrodes 159 and 169 are
thin.

[0132]The bus electrodes 159 and 169 of the PDP of the present embodiment
are thinner than in conventional PDPs, thereby enabling the suppression
of differences in the thickness of the dielectric layer 107 that is
laminated so as to cover the bus electrodes 159 and 169, which makes it
possible to suppress the thickness of the dielectric layer 107 at edge
portions of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 from being less than the
thickness of other portions of the dielectric layer 107.

[0133]Also, the PDP of the present embodiment has a longer life and higher
reliability than conventional PDPs since a so-called migration phenomenon
in which metals electrically move during driving of the PDP does not
readily occur between the dielectric layer 107 and the bus electrodes 159
and 169 that include Al--Nd as the main component.

[0134]The dielectric layer 107 has a memory, which is a current
restricting function unique to AC PDPs. Also, the dielectric layer 107
has a relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. set to approximately
4, a thickness d set to approximately 5 [μm], and is composed of, for
example, a material including 95% SiO2.

[0135]The relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. of the dielectric
layer 107 is not limited to this, but rather it is sufficient to be set
in the range of 2 to 5 inclusive.

[0136]Generally, the relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. is in
the range of 4 to 5 inclusive when the dielectric layer 107 includes
SiO2 as a main component and is laminated using a CVD method, but
falls in the range of 2 to 3 inclusive when the dielectric layer 107 is
formed using a so-called low-k material.

[0137]Also, due to the relationship with the thickness d, the
electrostatic capacity of the dielectric layer 107 will be small, and a
necessary discharge current will not be accumulated if the relative
dielectric constant .di-elect cons. is less than 2, while on the other
hand, if greater than 5, an excess of discharge current will be
generated, thereby reducing luminous efficiency.

[0138]It is sufficient to use SiOC, SiOF or the like as the so-called
low-k material, in order to form the dielectric layer 107 with a relative
dielectric constant .di-elect cons. in the range of 2 to 3 inclusive.

[0139]The so-called low-k material used in the dielectric layer 107 is not
limited to this, but rather it is sufficient for the material to enable
the setting of the relative dielectric constant in the aforementioned
range, and enable the formation of the film by any of various types of
CVD methods.

[0140]The thickness d of the dielectric layer 107 is not limited to this,
but rather it is sufficient to be set in the range of 1 [μm] to 10
[μm] inclusive.

[0141]The dielectric breakdown voltage strength becomes insufficient and
yield is reduced if the thickness d of the dielectric layer 107 is less
than 1 [μm], while a sufficient reduction in discharge inception
voltage and discharge sustaining voltage cannot be obtained if the
thickness d is greater than 10 [μm].

[0142]The dielectric layer 107 includes SiO2, and has a higher
dielectric breakdown voltage and denser layer structure than in
conventional PDPs.

[0143]The dielectric layer 107 has a higher dielectric breakdown voltage
and a denser layer structure than in conventional PDPs because in the
lamination process, the dielectric layer 107 is formed by any of various
types of CVD methods such as the inductive coupling plasmas CVD method
(ICP-CV method), and using tetra-ethyl-oxysilane (TEOS) and a dielectric
layer material including Si atoms and O atoms.

[0144]It is desirable for the dielectric breakdown voltage of the
dielectric layer 107 to be 1.0×106 [V/cm] to
1.0×107 [V/cm] inclusive.

[0145]It is not desirable for the dielectric breakdown voltage to be
greater than that of the bulk material of glass, which is around
1.0×107 [V/cm]. Also, dielectric breakdown may occur if the
dielectric breakdown voltage is less than 1.0×106 [V/cm],
since the thickness d of the dielectric layer 107 has an upper limit of
10 [μm], which is 1/4 that of conventional dielectric layers (d=40
[μm]), whereby dielectric breakdown voltage falls below
1.0×106 [V/cm], which is four times the dielectric breakdown
voltage of conventional dielectric layers (2.5×105 [V/cm]).

[0146]It is preferable for the dielectric layer 107 to include 80% to 100%
SiO2 since density further increases, the layer structure becomes
denser, and the dielectric breakdown voltage increases in such a case.

[0147]Given that the dielectric layer 107 has a high dielectric breakdown
voltage and a dense layer structure, a sufficient dielectric breakdown
voltage can be maintained if the relative dielectric constant .di-elect
cons. is in the range of 2 to 5 inclusive, even if the thickness d of the
dielectric layer 107 is reduced over conventional PDPs to be in the range
of 1 [μm] to 10 [μm] inclusive.

[0148]The thickness d of the dielectric layer 107 can be set to
approximately 10 [μm] if the relative dielectric constant .di-elect
cons. is close to 5, and to approximately 5 [μm] if the relative
dielectric constant .di-elect cons. is close to 3, thereby obtaining a
practical withstand voltage, and furthermore, the thickness d may be
further reduced to, for example, approximately 1 [μm] if the thickness
of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 is further reduced.

[0149]However, since the capacitance c increases if the thickness d of the
dielectric layer 107 is reduced too much, more discharge current is
generated than is necessary to generate a sustain discharge, and luminous
efficiency is reduced.

[0150]In the present embodiment, the ratio of the relative dielectric
constant .di-elect cons. to the thickness d of the dielectric layer 107
(.di-elect cons./d) is set to 0.1 to 0.3 inclusive.

[0151]An improvement in luminous efficiency cannot be expected if
(.di-elect cons./d) is greater than 0.3 since this is greater than the
conventional PDP (.di-elect cons./d) of 0.3, and it is difficult to set
(.di-elect cons./d) to less than 0.1 in view of the facts that it is
difficult to form a film with a thickness d greater than 20 [μm] when
using a CVD method, and that the lower limit of the relative dielectric
constant .di-elect cons. is 2.

[0152]A technique exists for increasing the Xe partial pressure in the
discharge gas in order to improve luminous efficiency, but this technique
requires that a high electrical energy be supplied to the Xe, that the
discharge sustain voltage be increased, and that a driver IC with a
higher withstand voltage than a driver IC connected to conventional PDPs
be provided. In the present embodiment, the electric field intensity in
the discharge space when a voltage is applied to the display electrode
pair 104 is strengthened since the thickness d of the dielectric layer
107 is smaller than in conventional PDPs, and since the electric energy
density increases, the driver IC connected to conventional PDPs can be
used while increasing the Xe partial pressure in the discharge gas
without increasing the discharge sustain voltage.

[0153]In the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, it is possible to improve
the transmission of visible light through the front plate 102 generated
by driving of the PDP over conventional PDPs since the layer structure of
the dielectric layer 107 is denser and the thickness d of the dielectric
layer 107 is smaller than in conventional PDPs.

[0154]Furthermore, given that the thickness d of the dielectric layer 107
is smaller in the present embodiment than in conventional PDPs, it is
possible to reduce the occurrence of warpage in the substrate due to
differences in thermal expansion between the glass substrate 110 and the
main surface of the dielectric layer 107 laminated thereon during the
heating process in the panel assembly step, thereby improving the
lifetime and quality of the PDP.

[0155]Also, a thin and light PDP can be obtained since in the present
embodiment, a thickness t1 of the substrate 110, which is approximately
1.1 [mm], is smaller than in conventional PDPs.

[0156]Also, given that the dielectric layer 107 is formed by a CVD method
so as to cover the display electrode pair 104 including the bus
electrodes 159 and 169 in the present embodiment, the PDP of the present
embodiment is superior to conventional PDPs in that the dielectric layer
107 is formed along the contour of the display electrode pair 104, and
the thickness d of the dielectric layer 107 is even. Also, it is possible
to suppress the thickness d from becoming smaller at areas of the
dielectric layer 107 that correspond to the electrode edges, thereby
improving the withstand voltage of the dielectric layer 107.

[0157]The protective film 108 has a thickness of, for example, 0.6
[μm], is laminated on the main surface of the dielectric layer 107
facing the discharge space, and includes MgO as a main component.

[0158]MgO (magnesium oxide) is widely used as a material in the protective
film 108 due to having a large secondary electron emission coefficient
γ and high sputter resistance, and being optically transparent.

[0159]The surface of the protective film 108 is exposed to the discharge
space, and protects the dielectric layer 107 from ion bombardment during
discharges when the assuming that the PDP is in the driven state, and
also acts to lower the discharge inception voltage by efficiently
emitting secondary electrons.

[0160]The dielectric layer 107 and the protective film 108 act to prevent
sputtering and degredation of the surface of the display electrode pair
104 due to high energy ions generated by discharges.

[0161]The thickness of the protective film 108 is not limited to this, but
rather it is sufficient to be 0.4 [μm] to 1.0 [μm] inclusive.

[0162]Sputter resistance is reduced if the thickness of the protective
film 108 is less than 0.4 [μm], whereas the efficient emission of
secondary electrons is no longer possible when the thickness is greater
than 1.0 [μm].

[0163]The protective film 108 has a higher secondary electron emission
coefficient and a higher sputter resistance than conventional PDPs.

[0164]Given that the protective film 108 is kept in a reduced-pressure
atmosphere from after formation of the dielectric layer 107 covering the
display electrode pair 104 until formation of the protective film 108 is
completed, the absorption of impure gases in the process for forming the
protective film 108 is suppressed more than in conventional PDPs.

[0165]Here, the reduced-pressure state refers to a vacuum or a
reduced-pressure vacuum, or a reduced-pressure state replaced with an
inert gas.

[0166]When formed in a vacuum using a vacuum film formation process
described later, such as a vacuum deposition method, the protective film
108 has a dense layer structure, further increased secondary electron
emission coefficient, and high sputter resistance, which is preferable.

[0167]If the front plate 102 is placed in a reduced-pressure atmosphere
until sealing of the front place 102 and the back plate 103 is completed,
the absorption of impure gases by the protective film 108 can be further
suppressed, and the secondary electron emission coefficient and sputter
resistance of the protective film 108 can be increased over conventional
PDPs, which is preferable. Also, constituent elements formed on the main
surface of the front plate 102 such as the barrier ribs and phosphor
layers do not absorb impure gases, and it is possible to further suppress
the absorption of impurities by the dielectric layer 107 and the
protective film 108, which is preferable.

[0168]On the other hand, on the back plate 103, a data (address) electrode
112 is formed in the unit discharge cell on the surface of the substrate
111 formed, from a glass plate, so as to three-dimensionally cross the
scan electrode 105 and the sustain electrode 106 provided on the surface
of the front plate 102.

[0169]The data electrode 112 includes at least Al--Nd, and is formed by a
vacuum film formation process, similarly to the formation of the display
electrode pair 104 on the front plate 102.

[0170]Furthermore, a dielectric layer 113 with a film thickness of
approximately 2 [μm] is formed on the surface of the substrate 111 so
as to cover the data electrode 112 formed thereon.

[0171]Similarly to the above-described dielectric layer 107 on the front
plate 102, the dielectric layer 113 includes 80% SiO2 and is formed
using any of various CVD methods such as the CVD method and the ICP-CVD
method.

[0172]Furthermore, although not depicted in FIG. 1B, barrier ribs 114 are
formed upright on the main surface of the dielectric layer 113 so as to
have substantially even heights.

[0173]The barrier ribs 114 preferably include a non lead-based glass that
is applied and baked, and is formed into a rib configuration in a
predetermined pattern so as to divide a plurality of discharge cells into
stripes or a lattice formation (not depicted).

[0174]Also, red, green, and blue light emitting phosphor layers 115 are
formed on the main surface of the dielectric layer 113 and the wall
surfaces of the barriers walls 114.

[0175]Phosphors such as (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu, Zn2SiO4:Mn or
BaMg2Al14O24:Eu are used in the phosphor layers 115.

[0176]The phosphor layers 115 are applied per aforementioned phosphor
color by being printed and baked, and are formed on the side walls of the
barrier ribs 114 and on the main surface of the dielectric layer 113 on
the substrate 111.

[0177]Although not described in detail, the front plate 102 formed by the
aforementioned process and the back plate 103 formed by the
aforementioned vacuum process are disposed in opposition, the edges
thereof are sealed, the space separated from the exterior by the front
and back plates 102 and 103 and a sealant not depicted is evacuated to
create a high-vacuum therein, and a mixed discharge gas including mainly
the rare gases xenon and neon is filled and enclosed in the space at a
pressure of approximately 60 [kPa]. This completes the PDP of the present
invention.

[0178]The discharge gas is not limited to this, but rather may include
xenon and barium as main components.

[0179]Neither the phosphor materials, the discharge gas components, nor
the pressure of the discharge gas are limited to as previously described,
but rather may be materials and conditions commonly used in AC PDPs.

[0180]The scan electrode 105, the sustain electrode 106 and the data
electrode 112 of the PDP disposed with a plurality of the unit discharge
cells shown in FIG. 1 are connected to a drive circuit (driver IC etc.),
and the drive circuit is connected to a control circuit for control
thereof, thereby obtaining a PDP apparatus.

[0181]2. Driving Method for the PDP 101

[0182]The PDP is driven by an address-display separation drive scheme that
includes three operation periods (not depicted), which are specifically
(1) an initialization period in which all display cells are put into an
initialized state, (2) a data writing period in which the discharge cells
are addressed, and display states corresponding to input data are
selected and input to the addressed discharge cells, and (3) a sustained
discharge period in which the discharge cells in the display states are
caused to perform display emission.

[0183]In (1) the initialization period, which is usually performed at
least once in a frame period, a 400 [V] to 600 [V] high voltage is
applied between the scan electrode 105 and the data electrode 112 to
place the wall charge of the all the display cells into the initialized
state level.

[0184]In (2) the data write period in subfield periods, write data is
input using the data electrode 112 of the back plate 103 to form a wall
charge on the main surfaces, on the discharge space side, of the
dielectric layer 107 and the protective film 108 of the front plate 102
in opposition to the back plate 103.

[0185]In (3) the sustain discharge period, rectangular electrode voltage
pulses having mutually different phases are applied to the scan electrode
105 and the sustain electrode 106 on the front plate 102. In other words,
an alternating voltage is applied to the scan electrode 105 and sustain
electrode 106 to generate a pulse discharge each time the current
polarity changes in discharge cells to which display state data has been
written. Sustain discharges generated in this way cause 147-[nm]
resonance lines to be emitted from exited xenon atoms in the discharge
space, and mainly 173-[nm] molecular beams to be emitted from excited
xenon molecules, after which, such ultraviolet radiation is converted
into visible radiation by the phosphor layers 115 provided on the back
plate 103, thereby obtaining display luminance by the driving of the PDP
101.

[0186]Effects of the PDP of Embodiment 1

[0187]In the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, the density of the
dielectric layer 107 is improved over a dielectric layer formed by a
conventional pressure film process since the dielectric layer 107
includes SiO2 and is formed by a CVD method, and therefore the
dielectric layer 107 has a high dielectric breakdown voltage of
1.0×106 [V/cm] or more, compared to a conventional dielectric
layer.

[0188]In the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, binder baking material
does not remain in the bus electrodes 159 and 169 after baking, in
contrast to bus electrodes formed by a conventional thick film process
including a baking step, due to the bus electrodes 159 and 169 being
formed by a vacuum film formation process, and therefore, gas bubbles do
not readily form in the contact portions of the bus electrodes 159 and
169 and the dielectric layer 107 formed by a CVD method so as to cover
the bus electrodes 159 and 169.

[0189]Also, in the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, the bus electrodes
159 and 169 are thinner than conventional bus electrodes due to being
formed by a vacuum film formation process, whereby differences in
thickness of the dielectric layer 107 formed on the bus electrodes 159
and 169 can be suppressed more so than in conventional PDPs, and as a
result, the thickness of the dielectric layer 107 at portions
corresponding to edge portions of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 can be
kept from becoming thinner than other portions of the dielectric layer
107, and dielectric breakdown at portions of the dielectric layer 107
corresponding to edge portions of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 can be
suppressed more so than in conventional PDPs. Moreover, given that
differences in the thickness of the dielectric layer 107 are suppressed
more so than in conventional PDPs, the need to thicken the dielectric
layer to maintain the dielectric breakdown voltage is eliminated, and the
dielectric layer can be made thinner.

[0190]Also, in the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the
dielectric layer 107 is more even than in conventional PDPs due to being
formed by a CVD method, whereby differences in the film thickness
distribution of the dielectric layer 107 is suppressed more so than in
conventional PDPs, and as a result, the thickness of the dielectric layer
107 corresponding to edge portions of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 can
be kept from becoming thinner than other portions of the dielectric layer
107, and dielectric breakdown at portions of the dielectric layer 107
corresponding to edge portions of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 can be
suppressed more so than in conventional PDPs.

[0191]As such, in the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, even when the
film thickness of the dielectric layer 107 is reduced over conventional
dielectric layers, the dielectric layer 107 has a high withstand voltage,
gas bubbles do not readily form, and differences in the thickness
distribution are reduced, thereby suppressing dielectric breakdown in the
dielectric layer 107 more so than in conventional PDPs.

[0192]In the PDP of the present embodiment, a thin and dense dielectric
layer can be formed more easily than in conventional PDPs since the
dielectric layer 107 is formed by a CVD method.

[0193]Furthermore, in the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, the electric
field intensity between the scan electrode 105 and the sustain electrode
106 is strengthened during driving of the PDP more so than in
conventional PDPs since the dielectric layer 107 is thinner than
conventional dielectric layers.

[0194]Consequently, in the PDP of the present embodiment, driving can be
performed using a low sustain discharge voltage, and the discharge
inception voltage is reduced, thereby enabling an improvement in luminous
efficiency.

[0195]Also, in the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, there is no
absorption of gas impurities or reactions with gas impurities in the
dielectric layers 107 and 113 or the protective film 108 since they are
formed in at least a vacuum or reduced-pressure environment.

[0196]Therefore, in the PDP of the present embodiment, given that there is
no reduction in the secondary electron emission coefficient compared to
conventional PDPs, neither the discharge inception voltage nor the
discharge sustain voltage rise, and the lifetime and reliability of the
PDP can be improved over conventional PDPs without a reduction in sputter
resistance.

[0197]Note that although the protective film 108 is described above as
being composed of MgO, a protective film composed of another metal oxide
such as CaO, BaO, SrO, MgNO or ZnO may be used.

[0198]Also, although the substrates 110 and 111 are described above as
having thicknesses t1 and t2 of approximately 1.1 [mm], warpage of the
substrates 110 and 111 can be suppressed even if the thicknesses thereof
are set to approximately 0.5 [mm] or 0.7 [mm] since in the PDP 101 of the
present embodiment, the bus electrodes 159 and 169 and the dielectric
layers 107 and 113 are thinner than bus electrodes and dielectric layers
of conventional PDPs. As a result, the substrates 110 and 111 are made
thinner, thereby enabling the realization of a thinner and lighter-weight
PDP 101 of the present embodiment.

[0199]Also, although described above as having thicknesses t1 and t2 of
approximately 1.1 [mm], the substrates 110 and 111 may be thicker, and
may be set to approximately 2.8 [mm], which is the same as in
conventional PDPs.

[0200]Also, although glass substrates are used as the substrates 110 and
111 in the above descriptions, the present invention is similarly
obtainable if plastic substrates are used. Thermal resistant plastic
substrates include, for example, the high heat resistant plastic
substrate SUMILITE FST polyethersulfone (PES) (registered trademark of
Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.,
with a Tg of approximately 223 [° C.], which as an upper
temperature limit is sufficient for use in the low temperature process of
the present invention.

[0201]Also, although described above as being formed by a CVD method, the
dielectric layer 113 of the back plate 103 may be formed by printing and
baking a low melting glass, the same as with conventional back plates.

[0202]Also, although described above as including Al--Nd and being formed
in a vacuum, the data electrode 112 may include Ag as a main component
and be formed by being printed and baked, or may include Cr--Cu--Cr as a
main component and be formed in a vacuum, the same as with conventional
back plates.

[0203]Also, although in the above description at least the bus electrodes
159 and 169, the dielectric layer 107 and the protective film 108 are
formed on the front plate 102, and at least the data electrode 112 and
the dielectric layer 113 are formed on the back plate 103, the present
invention is similarly applicable if the layers and films are disposed in
the opposite order, such as in a reflective PDP.

[0204]Evaluation Test

[0205]In the following, there were prepared a working example 1 PDP based
on the PDP 101 of the present embodiment, and a comparative example 1 PDP
based on a conventional PDP, and the previously described effects were
examined.

Working Example 1

[0206]A description of the PDP of working example 1 has been omitted since
it is the same as the PDP shown in embodiment 1.

Working Example 2

[0207]A description of the PDP of working example 2 has been omitted since
it is the same as the PDP shown in working example 1, other than the
relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. and thickness d of the
dielectric layer 107 being set to 2.3 and 10 [μm] respectively.

Comparative Example 1

[0208]The PDP of comparative example 1 differs from the PDP of working
example 1 in that, in the front plate 102, the thickness of the substrate
110 is set to approximately 2.8 [mm], narrow bus electrodes 159 and 169
with a film thickness of approximately 5 [μm] to 6 [μm] are formed
by a pressure film processing of applying a layer of Ag paste and
performing baking, and the dielectric layer 107 is formed by a printing
method of applying a low melting glass material and performing baking, so
as to have a relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. of
approximately 13, a film thickness of approximately 40 [μm], and a
dielectric breakdown voltage of approximately 2.5×105 [V/cm],
and with respect to the back plate 103, the thickness of the glass
substrate 111 is set to approximately 2.8 [mm], and the dielectric layer
113 is formed by a printing method of applying a low melting glass
material and performing baking, so as to have a relative dielectric
constant .di-elect cons. of approximately 13, a film thickness of
approximately 40 [μm], and a dielectric breakdown voltage of
approximately 2.5×105 [V/cm]. Descriptions of other aspects of
the structure have been omitted.

[0209]Content and Results of the Evaluation Test

[0210]Test 1

[0211]The PDPs of comparative example 1 and working example 1 were
connected to respective drive circuits etc., and a discharge sustain
voltage applied between the scan electrode 105 and sustain electrode 106
was varied. The results of the examination confirmed that although
driving was not stable when the discharge sustain voltage was 180 [V] or
less in the PDP of comparative example 1, driving was stable even if the
discharge sustain voltage was lowered to approximately 140 [V] in the PDP
of working example 1.

[0212]It was therefore confirmed by the present test that the discharge
inception voltage of the PDP of working example 1 can be reduced.

[0213]Test 2

[0214]Also, the PDPs of comparative example 1 and working example 1 were
each provided with 15 inch test panel, connected to respective drive
circuits etc., and driven in the stable driving range obtained in test 1.
Upon measuring the luminances of the PDPs using the BM-8 luminance meter
manufactured by Irie Co., a luminance of 800 [cd/m2] was observed
for the PDP of comparative example 1, while a luminance of 960
[cd/m2] was observed for the PDP of working example 1.

[0215]It was therefore confirmed that the luminance of the PDP of working
example 1 was improved to approximately 1.2 times that of the PDP of
comparative example 1, and transmissivity was improved over that of
conventional PDPs due to reducing the thickness of the dielectric layer
107.

[0216]In addition to the luminance measurement, a known power meter was
used to measure the wattage of the PDPs, and upon substituting the
wattages into a known equation, it was found that the luminous efficiency
of the PDP of comparative example 1 was 1.5 [lm/w], while the luminous
efficiency of the PDP of working example 1 was 2.3 [lm/w], thereby
confirming that the luminous efficiency of the PDP of working example 1
was improved to approximately 1.5 times that of the PDP of comparative
example 1.

[0217]Also, upon continuously driving each of the PDPs in the stable
driving areas and measuring the time until the luminance measured by the
luminance meter was reduced by half, it was found that the luminance
half-life of the PDP of comparative example 1 was approximately 5,000
[h], while the luminance half-life of the PDP of working example 1 was
approximately 10,000 [h], thereby confirming that a lifetime twice as
long as the PDP of comparative example 1 was obtained for the PDP of
working example 1, and reliability was further improved over conventional
PDPs.

[0218]Furthermore, it was found that during driving of the PDP of working
example 1, the thin-film dielectric layer 107 has a sufficient withstand
voltage since dielectric breakdown did not occur when the high voltage
was applied during the aforementioned initialization period.

[0219]The PDP of working example 1 includes the thin substrate 110 whose
thickness is 1/3 that of the PDP of comparative example 1, and it was
confirmed that it is possible to make the PDP of working example 1
thinner and lighter-weight than the PDP of comparative example 1 since
warpage was not seen in the substrate 110.

[0220]Test 3

[0221]Furthermore, the Xe partial pressure of the discharge gas in the
PDPs of comparative example 1 and working example was set to 100%, and
the thickness of the dielectric layer in working example 1 was set to 10
[μm], and the PDPs were connected to respective drive circuits the
same as in test 1. Upon examining stable driving while varying the
discharge sustain voltage, it was confirmed that driving of the PDP of
comparative example 1 was stable at 340 [V], while driving of the PDP of
working example 1 was stable at 220 [V].

[0222]It was therefore confirmed by the present test that, in contrast to
conventional PDPs, the discharge sustain voltage did not rise even if the
Xe partial pressure in the discharge gas is increased.

[0223]Test 4

[0224]The (.di-elect cons./d) of the PDP of comparative example 1 was set
to 0.32 (relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons.=12 and thickness
d=38 [μm]), and the (.di-elect cons./d) of the PDP of working example
2 was set to 0.23 (relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons.=2.3 and
thickness d=10 [μm]), and the PDPs were connected to respective drive
circuits, similarly to test 2. Upon driving the PDPs in the stable
driving area and substituting measurements of the luminance meter and
power meter in a known equation, the luminous efficiency of the PDP of
comparative example 1 was 2.3 [lm/w], while the luminous efficiency of
the PDP of working example 2 was 3.0 [lm/w], thereby confirming that
luminous efficiency in the PDP of working example 2 was improved 30% over
that of the PDP of comparative example 1.

Embodiment 2

[0225]The following describes a method for manufacturing the PDP 101 of
embodiment 1 with references to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

[0226]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process for the PDP
101 pertaining to embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a
process chart showing an overview of a process for forming the front
plate 102 of the PDP 101, and FIG. 4 is a process chart showing an
overview of a process for forming the back plate 103 of the PDP 101. Note
that the front plate 102 in FIG. 3 is shown inverted with respect to the
front plate 102 in FIG. 1B. Also, in FIG. 3 the same reference numbers
have been given to features the same as in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and a portion
of the reference numbers have been omitted for the sake of
simplification. Moreover, the disposition of the substrate in the device
shown in FIG. 3 may be inverted.

[0227]Formation Process for the Front Plate 102

[0228]As shown in S1 of FIG. 3, the pair of transparent electrodes 151 and
161 is formed by laminating a transparent electrode film composed of ITO,
SnO2, ZnO, etc. with a film thickness of approximately 100 [mm] on
the main surface of the glass substrate 110, and performing wide
patterning by a photolithography method to form the electrodes parallel
to each other and in opposition to each other so as to sandwich a
discharge gap therebetween (S1 in FIG. 2).

[0229]Next, as shown in S2 of FIG. 3, an Al--Nd alloy thin film is formed
on the main surface of the transparent electrodes 151 and 161 by a vacuum
film formation process such as a vacuum deposition method, an electron
beam deposition method, a plasma beam deposition method, or a spattering
method in a vacuum or reduced-pressure spattering gas atmosphere with a
substrate temperature of room temperature to 300 [° C.], using an
Al series metallic electrode material that includes at least a rare earth
metal such as Al--Nd (containing 2% to 6% of Nd by weight).

[0230]It is preferable for 2% to 6% of Nd to be contained in the Al--Nd
alloy thin film. This is because when less than 2%, the effects obtained
by adding Nd are insufficient, and when 2% or more, the formation of
hillocks (minute protrusions unnecessary to the electrode structure) can
be suppressed at even a substrate temperature of 300 [° C.], but
when 6% or more, it is difficult to form a film with even quality, and
the problem of thermal stress becomes significant.

[0231]Next, the Al--Nd alloy thin film is patterned more narrowly than the
transparent electrodes 151 and 161 using a low temperature process at
room temperature to 300 [° C.] such as a photo etching method or
more preferably a dry etching method, thereby forming the bus electrodes
159 and 169 composed of the Al--Nd alloy thin film in substantially
parallel alignment.

[0232]Here, using a dry etching process enables the bus electrodes 159 and
169 to be formed with almost no inclination or unevenness at the
electrodes edges.

[0233]Also, an Al series metal composed of Al--Nd can be used in a
low-temperature process at or below 300 [° C.] in a patterning
process performed by dry etching.

[0234]In this way, the display electrode pair 104 is constituted by the
pairing of the scan electrode 105 composed of the transparent electrode
151 and bus electrode 159 and the sustain electrode 106 composed of the
transparent electrode 161 and bus electrode 169.

[0235]Unlike a metal body including Ag as the main component, a metal body
including Al--Nd as main components is more homogenous and has superior
electrical properties (low resistance), thereby enabling the formation of
denser and thinner bus electrodes 159 and 169 than in conventional PDPs,
while maintaining superior electrical properties.

[0236]As shown in S3 of FIG. 3, the substrate 110 including the bus
electrodes 159 and 169 formed on the main surface of the transparent
electrodes 151 and 161 is inserted into a CVD apparatus 31 able to
perform a CVD method, a plasma CVD method, an ICP-CVD method etc., and
the dense dielectric layer 107 including at least SiO2 is formed on
the substrate 110 by any of the above methods (S3 of FIG. 2).

[0237]The dielectric raw material and film formation conditions differ
according to the CVD method, and a suitable film formation speed and
density can be obtained by appropriately selecting the raw material and
film formation conditions.

[0238]Here, the dielectric layer 107 is formed using, for example, a
dielectric raw material including TEOS (tetra-ethyl-oxysilane) gas, and
by a high-speed CVD method utilizing the ICP-CVD method
(Inductively-Coupled Plasma CVD).

[0239]Note that although not depicted for the sake of simplicity, the CVD
apparatus 31 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with an oxygen gas supply ring,
and a vapor gas supply ring from a vaporization apparatus for vaporizing
TEOS (tetra-ethyl-oxysilane) gas is provided in a vicinity of the
substrate.

[0240]In an ICP-CVD method, the interior of the CVD apparatus 31 is
quickly evacuated using a turbomolecular pump and a rotary pump which are
not depicted, and after forming a vacuum, oxygen gas is supplied into the
evacuated ICP-CVD reaction furnace 31 and maintained at a predetermined
pressure, and upon supplying RF power to an antenna, radio waves are
introduced into the ICP-CVD apparatus 31, thereby forming an inductive
electric field.

[0241]Electrons that are heated by the inductive electric field collide
with the gas molecules to generate ions and other electrons.

[0242]This results in the formation of a relatively homogenous plasma that
includes a large amount of ions and electrons. The oxygen gas that is
heated to a high temperature and activated in the plasma reaches the
vicinity of the substrate due to dispersion.

[0243]Here, a film including SiO2 as the main component is formed on
the main surface of the substrate 110 by causing the activated oxygen gas
and the TEOS vaporized gas to react.

[0244]The dielectric layer 107 composed of a dense and thin SiO2 film
can be formed at the high speed of approximately 2.5 [μm/min] by
appropriately selecting conditions such as chamber pressure, oxygen gas
flow rate, and the TEOS vaporized gas supply rate.

[0245]The temperature of the substrate is between room temperature and 300
[° C.] when forming the dielectric layer 107, whereby it is
possible to form the dielectric layer 107 using a low-temperature
process.

[0246]When formed using the aforementioned process, the density of the
dielectric layer 107 is improved over that of conventional PDPs, thereby
improving the withstand voltage of the dielectric layer 107. In other
words, it is possible to form the dielectric layer 107, which contributes
to the improvement in the luminous efficiency of the PDP, by a low
temperature process more quickly and with stable quality. Also, the
dielectric layer formation step (S3) which uses a low-temperature process
enables the suppression of warpage and cracks in the panel that occur due
to the conventional baking of dielectric layers and high-temperature
processes.

[0247]As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 110 on which the dielectric layer
107 has been formed is transferred from the CVD apparatus 31 to a vacuum
deposition apparatus 32 via a passageway 33.

[0248]The passageway 33 is kept in advance in a vacuum or reduced-pressure
state, or a reduced-pressure state substituted with the inactive gases
N2 and Ar.

[0249]In some cases, the substrate 110 is temporarily stored in the
passageway 33 in the reduce-pressure state.

[0250]The substrate 110 is transferred via the passageway 33 in a vacuum
or inactive gas atmosphere at a reduce pressure, and if being stored in
the passageway 33, it is desirable to lower the partial pressure of
impure gases in the atmosphere of the passageway 33 to below 100 [kPa],
or more desirably to 0.13 [kPa] or lower.

[0251]Next, as shown in S4 of FIG. 3, the protective film 108 including
the metal oxide MgO is formed to a predetermined film thickness on the
dielectric layer 107 of the transferred substrate 110 (S4 of FIG. 2). The
protective film 108 is formed in the vacuum deposition apparatus 32 in a
vacuum or at a reduce-pressure atmosphere including a spattering gas such
as Ar, by a vacuum deposition process using a low-temperature process
such as an electron beam vapor deposition method, spattering method, etc.

[0252]Here, the vacuum deposition process refers to a process of forming a
thin film in a vacuum, and includes methods such as an electron beam
vapor deposition method, spattering method, as well as a vacuum vapor
deposition method, plasma beam vapor deposition method, and various CVD
methods. It is possible to form a protective film at a low temperature in
a vacuum deposition process.

[0253]This enables the formation of a high quality protective film while
maintaining stability, since the protective film 108 is formed at a
reduced-pressure by a vacuum deposition process following the formation
of the dielectric layer 107. Also, using a low-temperature process in the
vacuum deposition process enables the suppression of warpage and cracks
in the panel that occur due to conventional high-temperature processes.

[0254]As shown in S4 of FIG. 3, in order to suppress reaction with and the
adsorption of impure gases (mainly H2O and CO2) to the
protective film 108, not only are at least the dielectric layer 107 and
the protective film 108 formed on the main surface of the substrate 110
in a vacuum to form the front panel 102, but the reduced pressure state
is maintained during the transfer step to the next step, the storage
step, and the transition step to the panel sealing step, and the front
panel 102 is transferred via the passageway 34 in a vacuum or
reduced-pressure state substituted with the inactive gases N2 and
Ar, and stored in the passageway 34.

[0255]When transferring the front panel 102 via the passageway 34 in the
vacuum or inactive gas atmosphere, or storing the front panel 102 in the
passageway 34, it is desirable to lower the partial pressure of impure
gases in the passageway 34 to below 100 [kPa], or more desirably to 0.13
[kPa] or lower.

[0256]In the manufacturing steps, the dielectric layer 107 and the
protective film 108 are formed on the main surface of the substrate 110
without coming into contact with air at least from the film formation
steps (S1 to S4) to the panel sealing step (S9), i.e., from steps S1 to
S9 of FIG. 2, and, by storing and maintaining the substrate 110 on which
the dielectric layer 107 and the protective film 108 were formed at the
reduced pressure, impure gases do not adsorb to either the dielectric
layer 107 or the protective film 108, nor do hydroxylation reactions or
carbonation reactions occur due to impure gases. As a result the
performance of the dielectric layer 107 and the protective film 108
formed in the vacuum is maintained until completion of the PDP.

[0257]Consequently, in the manufacturing steps for the front plate 102, it
is possible to stably manufacture the front plate 102 having the bus
electrodes 159 and 169, the dielectric layer 107 and the protective film
108 with reliability and quality that are improved over conventional
technology, while maintaining a high secondary electron emission
efficiency and reducing the discharge inception voltage, as well as
improving sputter resistance properties.

[0258]2. Manufacturing Steps for the Back Plate 103

[0259]As shown in S5 of FIG. 4, an Al--Nd metal alloy thin film is formed
using a metal electrode material including at least Al--Nd in a low
temperature processing by, similarly to as mentioned above, a vacuum
deposition process method or dry etching method, and the Al--Nd metal
alloy thin film is patterned in a low-temperature process to form the
data electrode 112 (S5 of FIG. 2).

[0260]Next, as shown in S6 of FIG. 4, the substrate 111 having the data
electrode 112 formed thereon is inserted into a CVD apparatus 41 able to
perform a CVD method, a plasma CVD method, an ICP-CVD method etc., and
the dielectric layer 113 including at least SiO2 is formed to a
predetermined film thickness on the main surface of the substrate 111 so
as to cover the data electrode 112 by, similarly to the manufacturing
steps for the front plate 102 and the dielectric layer 107, using any of
various types of low-temperature CVD methods such as a CVD method or an
ICP-CVD method (S6 of FIG. 2).

[0261]As mentioned above, the dielectric layer 113 is formed in a
low-temperature process, thereby enabling the suppression of warpage and
cracks in the substrate 111 that occur when the dielectric layer is
formed in a conventional baking step.

[0262]It is also desirable to maintain a reduced-pressure state from the
step for forming the dielectric layer 113 until the step for forming the
barrier ribs 114 and the phosphor layers 115.

[0263]As a result, the dielectric layer 113 is kept in a reduced-pressure
state at all times during steps involving exposure, whereby impure gases
are not absorbed thereby, which enables the manufacture of the back plate
103 with stable quality.

[0264]Also, as shown in S7 of FIG. 4, the barrier ribs 114 having a
substantially uniform height are formed on the main surface of the
dielectric layer 113 (S7 of FIG. 2).

[0265]It is desirable to use a non lead-based glass material as the
barrier ribs 114, which are formed by applying and baking the non
lead-based glass material into a rib configuration in a predetermined
pattern so as to divide a plurality of discharge cells into stripes or a
lattice formation.

[0266]Next, as shown in S8 of FIG. 4, the phosphor layers 115 are formed
in the groove portions separated by the barrier ribs 114, using phosphors
such as (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu, Zn2SiO4:Mn and
BaMg2Al14O24:Eu (S8 of FIG. 2).

[0267]The phosphor layers 115 are printed per color to the groove
portions, and after application and baking, are formed on the side
surfaces of the barrier ribs 114 and on the main surface of the
dielectric layer 113.

[0268]As a result, in the manufacturing steps for the back plate 103, the
reduced pressure state is maintained during at least the step for forming
the dielectric layer 113 (S6) and the intermediate step for transfer to
the next step for forming the barrier ribs 114 (S7), whereby the
dielectric layer 113 does not come into contact with air during at least
these steps. The back plate 103 can therefore be stably manufactured with
increased reliability since it is transferred to the step for forming the
barrier ribs 114 (S7) without impure gases adsorbing to the dielectric
layer 113.

[0269]Also, although a specific description has been omitted, in the panel
sealing step (S9 of FIG. 2), the front plate 102 on which the bus
electrodes 159 and 169, the dielectric layer 107 and the protective film
108 have been formed in at least a vacuum or at a reduced pressure, and
the back plate 103 on which the data electrode 112 and the dielectric
layer 113 have been formed in at least a vacuum or at a reduced pressure,
and on which the barrier ribs 114 and the phosphor layers 115 have been
formed, are disposed in opposition, and edges thereof are sealed together
(S9 of FIG. 2).

[0270]Thereafter, the panel interior is evacuated to a high vacuum (S10 of
FIG. 2), a mixed gas including the rare gases xenon and neon is enclosed
and sealed at a predetermined pressure in the panel as the discharge gas
(S11 of FIG. 2), and an aging step (S12 of FIG. 2) is performed, thereby
forming the PDP 101.

[0271]Effects of the PDP of Embodiment 2

[0272]In the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present embodiment,
since the bus electrodes 159 and 169 are formed in a vacuum deposition
process, compared to conventionally forming bus electrodes with a thick
film method, binder baking materials do not remain in the bus electrodes,
thereby eliminating the formation of gas bubbles in the subsequent step
for forming the dielectric layer 107. This enables the formation of the
dielectric layer 107 in which dielectric breakdown does not readily
occur. It is therefore possible to form a thinner dielectric layer 107
than in conventional manufacturing methods for PDPs.

[0273]Also, in the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present
embodiment, the dielectric layer 107 is formed using the ICP-CVD method,
thereby enabling the formation of a denser dielectric layer 107 than when
conventionally using a pressure film method, which makes it possible to
give the dielectric layer 107 a high withstand voltage, and as a result,
form a thin dielectric layer 107. Using the ICP-CVD method in particular
enables faster formation than when using a conventional thick film method
or other CVD method.

[0274]Consequently, in the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present
invention, it is possible to manufacture a PDP with a reduced discharge
sustain voltage and discharge inception voltage, and with improved
luminous efficiency, more quickly than with conventional manufacturing
methods for PDPs.

[0275]In the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present embodiment,
the step for laminating the dielectric layer 107 is simpler than the
manufacturing method for the PDP of patent document 1, thereby enabling
the manufacture of a high quality and highly reliable PDP.

[0276]In the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present invention, a
vacuum or reduced-pressure state is maintained from the step for forming
the dielectric layer 107 until the steps for transferring and storing the
front plate 102 having the dielectric layer 107 formed thereon, and
transitions to the next steps, thereby, compared to the manufacturing
method for the PDP of patent document 2, suppressing the dielectric layer
107 from contacting the air and the adsorption of impure gases to the
dielectric layer.

[0277]In the manufacturing method for the PDP of the present invention, a
vacuum or reduced-pressure state is maintained from the step for forming
the protective film 108 until the steps for transferring and storing the
front plate 102 having the protective film 108 formed thereon, and
transitions to the next steps, thereby, compared to the manufacturing
method for the PDP of patent documents 1 and 2, suppressing the
protective film 108 from contacting the air and the adsorption of impure
gases to the protective film.

[0278]Consequently, compared with the manufacturing method for the PDP of
patent documents 1 and 2, a PDP with more stable quality, higher
reliability, and longer lifetime can be manufactured in the manufacturing
method for the PDP of the present embodiment.

[0279]Note that although TEOS gas is used as the dielectric layer raw
material in the above description, another organic silane-based material
may be used.

[0280]Also, although formed using MgO in the above description, the
protective film 8 may be formed using a metal oxide such as BaO, CaO,
SrO, MgNO or ZnO.

[0281]Also, although formed by a CVD method in the above description, the
dielectric layer 113 of the back plate 103 may be formed by printing and
baking a low melting glass dielectric layer, the same as in conventional
back plates.

[0282]Also, although the data electrode 112 of the back plate 103 is
formed in a vacuum using a metal material including Al--Nd, an Ag
electrode may be formed by printing and baking, or a Cr--Cu--Cr electrode
may be formed in a vacuum, the same as in conventional back plates.

[0283]Also, although at least the bus electrode 109, the dielectric layer
107, and the protective layer 108 are formed on the front plate 102, and
at least the data electrode 112 and the dielectric layer 113 are formed
on the back plate 103 in the above description, the invention of the
present embodiment is similarly applicable even if the disposition of the
layers and films is reversed as in reflective PDPs, and the layers and
films may be formed on either of the opposing substrates.

Embodiment 3

[0284]In the present embodiment, there is shown a variation of the
configuration of the bus electrodes provided in intervals between the
display electrodes of a pair of electrodes on a surface parallel to the
main surface of the substrate.

[0285]FIG. 5A is a relevant cross-sectional view corresponding to a
cross-section cut along the display electrodes, and FIG. 5B is a relative
cross-sectional view corresponding to a cross-sectional taken along plane
X-Y of FIG. 5A.

[0286]In the present embodiment, only the structure of the bus electrodes
differs from embodiment 1, and descriptions of structures other than the
bus electrodes have therefore been omitted.

[0287]As shown in FIG. 5B, the scan electrode 105 and the sustain
electrode 106 each include protrusions 118 and 119 and bases constituted
from the transparent electrodes 151 and 161 and the bus electrodes 159
and 169 respectively. The base of the scan electrode 105 and the base of
the sustain electrode 106 are disposed in opposition so as to sandwich a
first gap therebetween, the protrusions 118 of the scan electrode 105 and
the protrusions 119 of the sustain electrode 106 sandwich a second gap
therebetween that is narrower than the first gap, and a plurality of the
protrusions are arranged on opposing edges of the substrates in each
discharge cell.

[0288]Variation 1

[0289]The following describes a structure of the display electrodes of PDP
discharge cells in variation 1.

[0290]FIG. 6A shows a portion of a display electrode pair from the back
plate side, and the region encompassed in the dashed double-dotted line
corresponds to the discharge cell. FIG. 6B is an enlarged relevant planar
diagram showing the part indicated in FIG. 6A.

[0291]As shown in FIG. 6A, electrode machined parts 171 and 172 extend
from one of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 that constitute the display
electrode pair 104 toward the other of the bus electrodes 159 and 169,
and protrude out of the opposing edges of the transparent electrodes 151
and 161, and as a result, when the transparent electrodes 151 and 161 and
the bus electrodes 159 and 169 are considered to be the bases, the parts
protruding out from the bases correspond to the protrusions 118 and 119.
A gap g between opposing protrusions 118 and 119 is narrower than a gap G
between the transparent electrodes 151 and 161, and is kept uniform. For
example, when the gap G is 50 [μm] to 100 [μm], it is desirable for
the gap g to be 1 [μm] to 10 [μm]. This enables the electrical
resistance from the bus electrodes 159 and 169 to the tips of the
protrusions 118 and 119 to be reduced, enables the protrusions 118 and
119 to be formed at the same time as the bus electrodes 159 and 169 using
a microfabrication process used in the formation thereof, and enables the
electrical field intensity between the protrusions 118 and 119 to be
strengthened.

[0292]As shown in FIG. 6B, tip angles θ1 and θ2 of the
protrusions 118 and 119 are in the range of 10 degrees or more to less
than 90 degrees, and the tip edges are formed such that a surface
parallel to the main surface of the scan electrode 105 has an
acutely-angled contour. The tip angles θ1 and θ2 may be the
same or different angles. Note that the tip edge configuration of the
protrusions 118 and 119 is not limited to being an acute angle, but
rather may be formed with a curved contour.

[0293]Steps for forming the protrusions 118 and 119 so as to sandwich a
narrow gap therebetween from 1 [μm] to 10 [μm], and for forming the
tips of the protrusions 118 and 119 into acute angles can be realized by
a process similar to fine process machining used when forming the bus
electrodes 159 and 169, which are thin film metal electrodes.

[0294]Note that in variation 1, a total of four protrusions 118 and 119,
that is, a pair of opposing protrusions and a pair of neighboring
protrusions, may be considered a group, the tips of all the protrusions
118 and 119 in a group may be formed to have the same interval, and
furthermore, the protrusions 118 and 119 may be disposed such that an
imaginary line directly connecting the tips of the protrusions 118 and
119 would form a square.

[0295]Variation 2

[0296]FIG. 7A shows a portion of a display electrode pair from the back
plate side, and the region encompassed in the dashed double-dotted line
corresponds to the discharge cell. FIG. 7B is an enlarged relevant planar
diagram showing the part indicated in FIG. 7A.

[0297]FIGS. 7A and 7B differ from FIGS. 6A and 6B in that the gap
sandwiched by the protrusions 118 of the scan electrode 105 and the
protrusions 119 of the sustain electrode 106 varies in the discharge cell
in the direction in which the scan electrode 105 and the sustain
electrode 106 extend, and in that the shape of the tip edges of the
protrusions 118 and 119 differ between protrusions 118 and 119 that are
in an opposing relationship between different electrodes. A description
of the structures previously described using FIGS. 6A and 6B has
therefore been omitted.

[0298]In variation 2, as shown in FIG. 7A, the protrusions 118 and the
protrusions 119 are disposed in opposition to each other such that the
gap sandwiched by the protrusions 118 and 119 of the scan electrode 105
and the sustain electrode 106 is wide at gap g1, and becomes narrower
along the direction in which the scan electrode 105 and the sustain
electrode 106 extend in accordance with increasing distance from the
center portion, giving a narrow gap g2 at the border portion (on the
barrier wall sides) of the discharge cell.

[0299]For example, when the gap g2 is in the range of 1 [μm] to 5
[μm], it is preferable for the gap g1 to be in the range of 5 [μm]
to 10 [μm], although the gaps g1 and g2 are not limited to such
ranges. The variations of these values can be appropriately set to vary
gradually or in steps. Note that although a pair of protrusions
sandwiching the narrowest gap in the discharge cells is provided at each
of the discharge cell border portions, the present variation is not
limited to this. Two or more pairs of protrusions with the narrowest gap
may be provided at each of the border portions.

[0300]Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the tip edges
of the protrusions 118 on the scan electrode 105 side, at the surface
parallel to the direction in which the band-shaped scan electrode 105 and
sustain electrode 106 extend, have been given a triangular shape, and the
tip edge of the protrusions 119 on the sustain electrode 106 side have
been given a semispherical shape. The present embodiment, however, is not
limited to this. The shapes of the tips may be selected from a polygonal
shape or a curved shape.

[0301]Furthermore, although the gap between opposing protrusions 118 and
119 is wider at the center portion of the discharge cell and becomes
narrower according to increasing distance from the center portion,
alternatively, the same effects may be achieved if pairs of protrusions
sandwiching therebetween the narrowest gap may be provided at least two
locations in the center portion of the discharge cell, and the gap widens
according to increasing distance from the center portion of the discharge
cell.

[0302]Variation 3

[0303]FIG. 8A shows a relevant cross-sectional view of a portion of a
discharge cell of the PDP of variation 3, showing a portion of the
display electrode of the PDP from the back plate, where the area enclosed
by the dashed double-dotted line corresponds to the discharge cell.

[0304]FIG. 8A differs from FIG. 6A and FIG. 7A in that the protrusions of
the first and second electrodes are in a comb-teeth configuration and
interposed with each other with a uniform gap therebetween, and
descriptions of structures that have previously been described using FIG.
6A and FIG. 7A have therefore been omitted.

[0305]In variation 3, as shown in FIG. 8A, the protrusions 118 on the scan
electrodes 105 side and the protrusions 119 on the sustain electrode 106
side are disposed at the opposing edges of the transparent electrodes 151
and 161 so as to be in comb-teeth configurations and to be interposed
with each other.

[0306]In variation 3, as shown in FIG. 8B, the protrusions 118 and 119
arranged in a comb-teeth configuration may be formed so as to, in at
least one of the scan electrode 105 and the sustain electrode 106, extend
from at least one of the bus electrodes 159 and 169, run parallel to the
at least one bus electrode, and protrude out from the narrow electrode
machined part 172. Similarly to FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B shows a portion of the
display electrode pair of the PDP from the back plate side, and the area
enclosed in the dashed double-dotted line corresponds to the discharge
cell.

[0307]Note that in both the scan electrode 105 and the sustain electrode
106, the protrusions 118 and 119 arranged in a comb-teeth configuration
may extend out from the narrow electrode machined parts so as to run
parallel to both the bus electrodes 159 and 169.

[0308]Note that as shown in FIG. 8C, the edges of the protrusions 118 and
119 that face each other may be provided with projections 120. FIG. 8C is
an enlarged relevant planar view of a portion of the projections 118 and
119 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

Effects of the PDP of Embodiment 3

[0309]As described above, the protrusions 118 and 119 are provided on the
opposing edges of the scan electrode 105 and the sustain electrode 106,
and when power is supplied to these electrodes, an electrical potential
concentrates at the protrusions 118 and 119, the electric field intensity
between the protrusions 118 and 119 strengthens, and two or more sites
where discharge readily occurs are formed in each discharge cell, thereby
making it easier to cause discharges than when only one pair of
protrusions are in each discharge cell. As a result, a sustain discharge
can be reliably generated even if the discharge inception voltage is
lowered. Also, if there is only one pair of protrusions in each discharge
cell, when the protrusions 118 and 119 are misaligned in the extending
direction of the display electrode pair 104 due to patterning precision,
there may be variations in the discharge delay time of each of the
discharge cells, whereas if two or more pairs of protrusions are provided
in each discharge cell, the discharge delay times will not be readily
influenced by patterning precision. Consequently, given that amount of
variation in discharge delay times can be reduced, a sustain discharge
can be reliably generated even if the discharge inception voltage is
lowered, and the power consumption of the PDP can be lowered. Also,
controlling the discharge delay times enables the realization of a
high-definition PDP.

[0310]In variation 1, the gap between protrusions 118 and 119 in an
opposing relationship is uniform, and by giving adjacent protrusions of
the same electrode the same protrusion length from either the scan
electrode 105 or the sustain electrode 106, discharges can be readily
generated at for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, all six sites where the
protrusions are in opposition, and two or more sites where discharges
readily occur can be ensured even if there are misalignments of the
protrusions 118 and 119 as mentioned above. Also, forming the tip edges
of the protrusions 118 and 119 at the surfaces parallel to the main
surface of the band-shaped scan electrode 105 to be acutely angled
results in the electric potential concentrating in the protrusions 118
and 119, and even further concentrating at the acutely angled tips,
thereby strengthening the electric field intensity in the gap sandwiched
by the pairs of protrusions 118 and 119. This enables the discharge to be
even more readily generated.

[0311]In variation 2, the gap sandwiched by the protrusions 118 of the
scan electrode 105 and the protrusions 119 of the sustain electrode 106
is narrowest at the border parts of each discharge cell, whereby, for
example, there are at least two sites where discharges readily occur as
shown in FIG. 7A, and similarly to variation 1, the tip edges of the
protrusions 118 and 119 at the surfaces parallel to the main surface of
the band-shaped scan electrode 105 are acutely angled or curved, making
discharges even more readily generated. In variation 2 in particular, the
gap between the protrusions 118 and 119 in the center portion of each
discharge cell is wider than in variation 1, thereby realizing the
above-described effects while improving the aperture ratio.

[0312]In variation 3, due to the protrusions 118 and 119 being arranged in
interposed comb teeth configurations, there can be provided a plurality
of sites where discharges readily occur between each of the protrusions
119 and two of the protrusions 118 extending from the other electrode and
in close proximity to the protrusions 119. This makes it possible to
increase the number of sites where discharges readily occur over the
number of sites when the protrusions are disposed in opposition between
different electrodes, and enhances the above-described effects.

[0313]In particular, in variation 3, as shown in FIG. 8C, when two or more
projections 120 are arranged on opposing edges of the protrusions 118 an
119 in opposition, the electric potential is concentrated at the
projections 120, and the electric field intensity between opposing
projections 120 is strengthened, thereby enhancing the above-described
effects. Note that the projections 120 may be provided on only one out of
the opposing protrusions 118 and 119. As shown in FIG. 8C, the
projections 120 are triangular at a surface parallel to the main surface
of the band-shaped scan electrode 105, although the projections are not
limited to this. The projects may have a polygonal or curved contour.

[0314]Furthermore, in variations 1 to 3, the protrusions 118 and 119 can
be formed at the same time as the microfabrication process used in the
formation of the bus electrodes 159 and 169 since the protrusions 118 and
119 extend from the bus electrodes 159 and 169 and are formed from the
same material as the bus electrodes. Also, the electrical resistance from
the bus electrodes 159 and 169 to the protrusions 118 and 119 is lowered,
thereby making it easier to manufacture the protrusions 118 and 119, and
furthermore enabling a reduction in the dimensions of the discharge cells
while improving response.

[0315]Evaluation Test

[0316]PDPs were manufactured based on variations 1 and 3, drive circuits
etc. were connected thereto, and whether or not driving was stable was
evaluated while varying the discharge inception voltage applied between
the scan electrodes 105 and the sustain electrodes 106. The results
confirmed that driving could be stably performed in both PDPs even at
approximately 120 [V], which is lower than the conventional discharge
inception voltage.

Embodiment 4

[0317]FIG. 9A shows a portion of a display electrode pair of a PDP from a
back plate side, where the area enclosed in the dashed double-dotted line
corresponds to a discharge cell. FIG. 9B is an enlarged relevant planar
diagram showing the part indicated in FIG. 9A.

[0318]As shown in FIG. 9A, a display electrode pair 104 constituted from a
scan electrode 105 and a sustain electrode 106 is arranged extending
across two or more discharge cells, protrusions 118 and 119 are disposed
in opposition so as to protrude out of opposing edges of transparent
electrodes 151 and 161 that constitute the scan electrode 105 and sustain
electrode 106 respectively, and opposing ones of the protrusions 118 and
119 are arranged so as to sandwich therebetween a gap g that is narrower
than a gap G sandwiched by the transparent electrodes 151 and 161.

[0319]Electrode machined parts 171 and 172 that extend from one of the bus
electrodes 159 and 169 toward the other of the bus electrodes 159 and 169
are caused to protrude out of the opposing edges of the transparent
electrodes 151 and 161, whereby when the transparent electrodes 151 and
161 and the bus electrodes 159 and 169 are considered to be bases, the
portions protruding out from the bases are considered to be the
protrusions 118 and 119. Note that the electrode machined parts 171 and
172 are formed with a width of, for example, approximately 5 [μm].

[0320]The protrusions 118 and 119 form pairs on each of the electrodes and
have acutely angled tip edges at surfaces parallel to the main surface of
the band-shaped scan electrode 105, and the tips of the protrusions 118
and 119 that form each pair are formed so as to be curved toward each
other in a claw configuration. Although the tip edges of the protrusions
118 and 119 are acutely angled in the above descriptions, the protrusions
118 and 119 are not limited to this, but rather may have a polygonal or
curved contour. Although the electrode machined parts 171 and 172 have
widths of approximately 5 [μm], the widths may be greater or smaller
than this value.

[0321]In particular, as shown in FIG. 9B, the protrusions 118 and 119 are
formed such that an imaginary line connecting tips 221 of opposing pairs
of the protrusions 118 and 119 would form a square 220, and the tips 221
would be located at the corners of the square 220. The four tips 221
would oppose each other with an equal gap of, for example, approximately
5 [μm] therebetween.

[0322]Effects of the PDP of Embodiment 4

[0323]Similarly to embodiment 1, in the present embodiment, two or more of
the protrusions 118 and 119 are provided in each discharge cell, and tip
edges of the protrusions at surfaces parallel to the main surface of the
scan electrode 105 are formed to be acutely angled, whereby electric
potential is concentrated at the protrusions 118 and 119, and further
concentrated at the tips of the protrusions. This enables the provision
of two or more sites where discharges readily occur in each discharge
cell, and makes it easier for discharges to readily occur than when only
one pair of protrusions are provided in each discharge cell. Furthermore,
in the present embodiment, since the length of the protrusion from the
opposing edge of the scan electrode 105 or the sustain 106 is made the
same measurement, adjacent protrusions of the same electrode form pairs,
and the tips of the protrusions 118 and 119 that constitute the pairs are
curved toward each other, when power is supplied to the scan electrode
105 and the sustain electrode 106, an equipotential line is connected
between the tips at which the electric potential is concentrated and juts
out toward the other electrode. Since the equipential line juts out
toward the other electrode, when power is supplied to the scan electrode
105 and sustain electrode 106, a discharge occurs in a smaller discharge
gap between opposing pairs of the protrusions 118 and 119 of the
differing electrodes than the discharge gap between the opposing tips of
the protrusions 118 and 119 of embodiment 3. The enables the reliable
generation of a discharge even if a low voltage is applied, and enables a
reduction in the amount of variation in the discharge delay time that
occurs in the discharge cells. The power consumption of the PDP can
therefore be reduced while maintaining the picture quality of the PDP.

[0324]In particular, the electric field is further concentrated between
the pairs of protrusions 118 and 119 due to being disposed such that the
imaginary line connecting the tips of the four closest protrusions 118
and 119 would form the square 220, thereby enhancing the above-described
effects.

[0325]Furthermore, due to being formed so as to extend out from the bus
electrodes 159 and 169, the protrusions 118 and 119 can be formed at the
same time as the microfabrication process used in the formation of the
bus electrodes 159 and 169. Also, given that the electrical resistance
from the bus electrodes 159 and 169 to the protrusions 118 and 119 can be
reduced, the protrusions 118 and 119 can be easily manufactured, and
furthermore, response can be improved while reducing the dimensions of
the discharge cells.

[0326]Although formed so as to extend out from the bus electrodes 159 and
169 in the present embodiment, as described above, the protrusions 118
and 119 may instead extend out of the opposing edges of the transparent
electrodes 151 and 161 disposed in opposition.

[0327]Also, although the protrusions 118 and 119 are arranged in the
present embodiment such that a square shape is formed by connecting the
tips of four of the protrusions 118 and 119 that are curved into claw
shapes, the protrusions 118 and 119 may instead be arranged such that the
shape is a rectangle, parallelogram, trapezoid, or other polygonal shape.

[0328]Also, although the tips of the protrusions 118 and 119 that form
pairs are described above as being formed so as to be curved toward each
other into claw shapes, the present invention should not be limited to
this. The tips of the protrusions 118 and 119 may have unsymmetrical
shapes with respect to the center of the protrusions 118 and 119, and the
tips of the protrusions 118 and 119 that constitute pairs may be shaped
so as to face each other.

[0329]Note that although two pairs of protrusions are provided in the same
electrode per discharge cell in the present embodiment as shown in FIG.
9A, only one pair of protrusions may be provided in the same electrode
per discharge cell. Of course, two or more pairs of protrusions may be
provided in the same electrode per discharge cell.

[0330]Although the protrusions 118 and 119 form pairs in both the scan
electrode 105 and the sustain electrode 106 in the present embodiment,
the protrusions 118 and 119 may form pairs in only one of the electrodes.

[0331]Evaluation Test

[0332]A PDP was manufactured based on the above embodiment, a drive
circuit etc. was connected thereto, and whether or not driving was stable
was evaluated while varying the discharge inception voltage applied
between the scan electrodes 105 and the sustain electrodes 106. The
results confirmed that driving could be stably performed in the PDP even
at approximately 100 [V], which is lower than the conventional discharge
inception voltage.

Embodiment 5

[0333]FIG. 10 is a schematic planar diagram showing a structure of a
display electrode pair in a discharge cell of a PDP of embodiment 5, when
viewed from a back plate of the PDP. FIG. 10 is a relevant planar diagram
corresponding to FIGS. 6A to 9A, and a region enclosed in the dashed
double-dotted line corresponds to a discharge cell.

[0334]As shown in FIG. 10, a display electrode 104 constituted from a scan
electrode 105 and sustain electrode 106 pair is disposed so as to extend
across two or more discharge cells, the scan electrode 105 and the
sustain electrode 106 are constituted from a transparent electrode 151
and 161 and a bus electrode 159 and 169 respectively, and protrusions 118
and 119 having acutely angled tip edges are disposed in opposition so as
to protrude out of opposing edges of the transparent electrodes 151 and
161.

[0335]Electrode machined parts 171 and 172 that extend from one of the bus
electrodes 159 and 169 toward the other of the bus electrodes 159 and 169
are caused to protrude out of the opposing edges of the transparent
electrodes 151 and 161, whereby when the transparent electrodes 151 and
161 and the bus electrodes 159 and 169 are considered to be bases, the
portions protruding out from the bases are considered to be the
protrusions 118 and 119. A gap g between a pair of opposing protrusions
118 and 119, which are formed from the same material as the bus
electrodes 159 and 169, is made narrower than a gap G between the
transparent electrodes 151 and 161.

[0336]For example, it is preferable for the gap g to be 5 [μm] when the
gap G is 50 [μm] to 100 [μm], and for the tip edges of the
protrusions 118 and 119 to be sharp-pointed acute angles of 5 degrees to
60 degrees.

[0337]Effects of the PDP of Embodiment 5

[0338]According to the above structure, electric potential is concentrated
at not only the protrusions 118 and 119, but further concentrated at the
tips thereof due to the tip edges being formed to have sharp-pointed
acutely angled contours at surfaces parallel to the main surface of the
scan electrode 105, and when power is supplied to the scan electrode 105
and the sustain electrode 106, a discharge can be reliably generated even
with a low voltage, and the amount of variation in discharge delay times
that occur in the discharge cells can be reduced. It is therefore
possible to reduce power consumption while maintaining the picture
quality of the PDP.

[0339]Also, due to being formed so as to extend out from the bus
electrodes 159 and 169 and from the same material as the bus electrodes
159 and 169, the protrusions 118 and 119 can be formed at the same time
as the microfabrication process used in the formation of the bus
electrodes 159 and 169. Also, given that the electrical resistance from
the bus electrodes 159 and 169 to the protrusions 118 and 119 can be
reduced, the PDP can be easily manufactured, and furthermore, response
can be improved while reducing the dimensions of the discharge cells, in
order to realize a high-definition PDP.

[0340]Note that although the gap g between the opposing protrusions is set
to the range of 1 [μm] to 10 [μm] in the above-described
embodiments, the present invention is not constrained to this range, but
rather may be set to greater than 10 [μm] due to circumstances such as
the definition of the PDP.

[0341]Also, although the case of using a dense and thin dielectric layer
formed by a CVD method or ICP-CVD method and including SiO2 as a
main component is described in the above embodiments, the present
invention is similarly applicable even when using a dielectric layer
formed by baking a thickly applied layer of a non lead-based glass or
lead-based glass having a relative dielectric constant somewhat higher
than SiO2.

[0342]Also, although forming the dielectric layers so as to have a
relative dielectric constant .di-elect cons. of 2 to 5 and a film a
thickness d of 1 [μm] to 10 [μm] is described above, the dielectric
layers may be formed so as to have a relative dielectric constant of 5 to
15 and a film thickness d of 10 [μm] to 45 [μm].

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0343]According to a PDP and manufacturing method for the PDP of the
present invention, a plasma display panel having a reduced discharge
inception voltage and improved luminous efficiency, reliability and
quality can be utilized in large size televisions and high-definition
televisions, large size display apparatuses, etc., and in the image
device industry, advertising device industry, industrial devices, and
other industrial fields, and has a very large and wide range of
applications in such industries.